From Marshal Bugeaud to Ahmed Litim, the city renames a school named after an Algerian rifleman



A sign indicating the direction of a school (illustration) – GILE MICHEL / SIPA

  • A school in the 3rd arrondissement of Marseille was renamed the Ahmed Litim school, named after an Algerian rifleman, following a vote in the municipal council.
  • Until then, it bore the name of another soldier with a controversial past.

The Bugeaud primary school, in the third arrondissement of Marseille, was renamed this Friday Ahmed Litim school, named after an Algerian tirailleur, following a vote in the municipal council. Unsurprisingly, the elected RNs voted against, as did the elected LRs, however with the Republicans on the side several abstentions and absences during the vote.

Ahmed Litim, Algerian rifleman, died at the age of 24 on August 25, 1944, liberating Marseille from German occupation. The Marquis Thomas Robert Bugeaud is not any character in the history of France, launches the mayor socializes Benoît Payan, defending himself the report submitted to the vote. He will crack down in France by repressing the popular movements of 1834 in Paris where he forged the reputation of a bloodthirsty character. He will go down in history as the officer who colonized Algeria. “

“Each street in Marseille reminds us of our shared history, also pleads the mayor. However, there are names whose symbolic weight has become difficult to bear. Like wounds, bruises that need to be treated. “

SOS Racisme also hopes for a change in Paris

The opposition, for its part, has embarked on a balancing act, like Guy Teissier (LR) for whom “Corporal Litim also has the right to a place in history”. “But you have decided to replace the name of a soldier with another soldier, why not wait for the creation of a new school? », He reacted, declaring himself in favor of a future school bearing the name of Ahmed Litim, while voting against the report.

“We are in favor of honoring the African army, and in particular the Algerian skirmishers, but that the other heroes of the history of France are excluded from the homage of the nation would be a scandal”, for his part launched Stéphane Ravier (RN), inflicting “glory, honor and eternal recognition” on both Ahmed Litim and Thomas Robert Bugeaud.

In a press release published after the announcement of such a deliberation, the president of SOS Racisme, Dominique Sopo, had hoped “that this decision will facilitate the name change of avenue Bugeaud in Paris”.





Source link