NAME: ZEYNEP AYHAN/19070311025

FRANCE
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-stabbing-children-injured-annecy-
emmanuel-macron-victims-syrian-rcna88688
WHY THIS NEWS ARTICLE?
I wanted to learn how the reactions were received in Europe for crimes committed by immigrants
and how they were received in politics.
SUMMARY
In a French Alps park, a 31-year-old Syrian refugee with permanent residency in Sweden has
been charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing four young children and two adults.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, appeared before investigating judges in Annecy
and is currently in custody for further investigation. The victims, who are no longer in life-
threatening condition, include toddlers aged between 22 months and 3 years, who remain
hospitalized. The attack involved individuals from France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
The suspect was apprehended in the park after bystanders, including a Catholic pilgrim, tried to
intervene. The motive for the attack remains unknown, and authorities have stated that it does not
appear to be terrorism-related. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the victims, their
families, and the first responders. The suspect's legal entry into France, due to his permanent
residency status in Sweden, has prompted discussions about migration policies. He had applied
for asylum in France but was denied since he had already been granted asylum in Sweden in
2013.
EVALUATION ON THE NEWS
The stabbing incident involving a Syrian refugee in France has sparked debates about the
nation's politics, particularly concerning migration policies. The suspect's legal entry into France,
facilitated by his permanent residency in Sweden, has drawn criticism from conservative and far-
right politicians. The incident has also raised concerns about the efficiency of France's asylum
system, given that the suspect had previously been granted asylum in Sweden in 2013. However,
it's important to note that the motives behind the attack remain unclear, and authorities have
stated that it does not appear to be linked to terrorism. French President Emmanuel Macron's visit
to the victims and their families, along with his statement on their stabilization, indicates a
response from the country's leadership in light of the incident.
The article does not provide direct information on the state of democracy in France. It
primarily focuses on the stabbing of a Syrian refugee and the ensuing legal prosecution, as well
as the response of officials and politicians to immigration policies. But when it comes to crime
news that immigrants are perpetrators, the news and the approach of politicians always affect the
society in the country and those living in that society as immigrants. Moreover, French society is
mostly a society where ultra-nationalist, anti-immigrant, and Islamophobic thoughts are popular
both in the past and today. Therefore, the political discussions made over this news may affect
the relations in the society, as well as cause the separation of people and the illegal restriction of
the rights of some people. In short, it can go from punishing the guilty immigrant to stigmatizing
all immigrants as scapegoats.
The article does not examine the broader democracy situation or political institutions in
France. To assess the state of democracy in a country, a broader set of factors needs to be taken
into account, such as electoral processes, civil liberties, the rule of law, freedom of expression,
and checks and balances within government.