On November 15, 2015 in Paris, tributes were paid in front of the terraces targeted by the attacks. – Coralie Lemke / 20 MInutes
- On the evening of the attacks of November 13, 2015, Anthony * was stationed as a waiter in one of the Parisian establishments targeted by the Daesh jihadists.
- Arrived in France eight years ago, this young man of 27, of Algerian nationality, was psychologically taken care of and compensated by the Guarantee Fund (FGTI) after the trauma suffered that evening.
- Married to a French woman but recently separated from his spouse, Anthony was unable to obtain the renewal of his residence permit and the Paris police headquarters notified him of an obligation to leave the territory.
- Asked by 20 minutes, Minister Delegate Marlène Schiappa is asking for a “re-examination” of her situation.
On Monday, Anthony * was unable to come to work. “It was too hard, I was too sad,” slips the server of Algerian nationality, 27 years old. The reason for his “depression”, he explains, fits on an A4 sheet. Arrived in France in 2013 and employed since 2017, he was informed by the Paris police headquarters of the non-renewal of his residence permit. As a result, he was notified of an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), together with a ban on returning to France for 36 months.
A decision “incomprehensible” and an “ignominy”, denounces this Tuesday his lawyer, Me Henri Braun. Posted on the evening of the attacks of November 13, 2015 in one of the establishments targeted by the terrorists, Anthony is indeed one of the victims of the jihadist attacks. “He was not physically injured because he managed to take refuge in the toilet, but he witnessed a real war scene when he came out, and he was deeply traumatized,” adds his lawyer.
A family foundation refused
Compensated and supported by the Guarantee Fund for Victims of Attacks (FGTI), Anthony is still struggling to understand the decision of the Paris police headquarters. “I have all my friends here, and four of my sisters live in France. I did not leave the establishment where I worked on the evening of the attacks. Even if it is hard some days, I have this employment contract and I cannot lose it, ”says the young man. Married to a Frenchwoman in 2016, the young man had so far benefited from a residence permit for his “family and private life”. But the couple have since separated. However, in France, a “community of life” must be justified for foreign spouses benefiting from this type of residence permit.
Contacted by 20 minutes, the prefecture of police of Paris specifies: “The services of the prefecture of police offered to him to make a new examination of situation, under the title of employee stay. But they were refused a refusal ”. Anthony’s lawyer nuances: “We have not refused any residence permit. But we insisted that the renewal request be made on a family basis, because it was the most relevant and the most protective for him. I was afraid that the consequences of the health crisis linked to Covid-19 in his sector of activity would be unfavorable to him as part of this process. “
Marlène Schiappa requests a review of her situation
Beyond the reason justifying the refusal to renew his residence permit, Me Henri Braun criticizes the “double talk” of the authorities in terms of taking care of victims of attacks. “On the one hand, we are told that the State is doing everything to support them and, on the other, we end up with this type of decision,” he notes. Finally, the OQTF issued to Anthony is accompanied by another measure, a ban on returning to French territory for 36 months. “My client is a civil party in the case of the attacks. With this decision, the prefecture deprives him of the right to attend the trial which is due to start in September, ”protests his lawyer.
Tell me it’s not true … https://t.co/4ourClZdy0
– eric bothorel ⌨️ (@ebothorel) June 1, 2021
In its decision with regard to Anthony, the prefecture is clear. The status of “victim of an attack does not confer on him any rights under the legislation in force”. Words that shocked members of associations of victims of the attacks, up to the majority MP Eric Botherel who was moved on Tuesday on Twitter.
Anxious to defend his client, Me Braun let it be known that he had filed an appeal before the administrative court to contest this OQTF. An approach which could lead, if the judges decide in his favor, in a “re-examination” of his administrative situation. According to our information, this is also what the Minister for Citizenship requested. Informed of the situation of the young waiter, the cabinet of Marlène Schiappa indicates that she wants a “solution to be found” and her situation “re-examined”.
* The first name has been changed.