White Supremacists And Neo-Nazis React To Murder Of Three Kurdish Dissidents In Paris

NOTE: The French authorities did not disclose to the public the surname of the murderer of three Kurdish dissidents in Paris, called "William M" in the press. This triggered a controversy as to the identity of the murderer.

On Friday, December 23, 2022, an attack took place in Paris outside the Kurdish Cultural Center in the 10th district, killing three Kurdish refugees, including two prominent figures: Emine Kara, the leader of the Kurdish women's movement, who was refused asylum in France earlier this year, and Mir Perwer, a popular Kurdish singer exiled in France. The third victim identified was Abdullah Kizil, also a dissident.

The assailant, a 69-year-old retired train conductor—identified as “William M.” in the press—claimed that he acted out of xenophobic motives. Kurdish protesters who gathered on Saturday, December 24, overturned cars, setting some on fire, and hurled objects at police. They expressed anger at not being properly protected by the French authorities, and called into question claims that the attack was a random racist act, suspecting Turkey of being involved.

Comments by French white supremacists and neo-Nazis on the event reveal two main narratives regarding the perpetrator: that he was a white French racist worthy of emulation, or that Turkey was behind the attack. Comments about the Kurds expressed that the Kurds are an example of violent, effective protest; the Kurds, like the Jews, also invented a genocide narrative for propaganda purposes; the Kurds are Arabs and behave like Arabs (i.e. setting cars on fire); the Kurds were not genuine allies of the French [against ISIS]. The full report provides a sampling.

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