Three Franco-Algerian influencers in the sights of the authorities in Lyon

Three Franco-Algerian influencers living in the Lyon region and having “called for hatred or violence in videos published on TikTok were reported to the competent authorities by the Rhône prefecture in Lyon.wrote on X the prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Fabienne Buccio.

According to its services, these are influencers supposed to reside in or around Lyon who published “more or less recently” videos on the Sofia Benlemmane, Abdesslam “Bazooka” and Laksas06 accounts. These videos follow several other similar messages published last week and which led to the arrest of three people of Algerian nationality in Brest, Grenoble and Montpellier.

According to AFP, the first, Sofia Benlemmane, followed by hundreds of thousands of people, is notably criticized for a live on TikTok produced in September, in which she copiously insults another woman in Arabic by throwing at her “fuck your mother, you and your France”. Abdesslam’s video “Bazooka» was published on December 10: he describes it as “traitors» opponents of the Algerian government and threatens to “cut throat”. Laksas06’s video dates, finally, from December 11, and he talks about Algerians living in France as “sleeping soldiers” ready to become “martyrs” to defend Algeria.

TikTok influencers of Algerian origin

Friday morning, Youcef A., a 25-year-old man baptized “Zazou Youssef” on TikTok, was arrested in Brest for a video in which he called in Arabic for attacks in France and violence in Algeria. Placed in pre-trial detention, he will be tried on February 24 for “apology of terrorism” and faces seven years in prison. Friday evening, another Algerian under obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), aged 31 and nicknamed “Imad Tintin”was arrested in Échirolles, a suburb of Grenoble.

He will be tried on Monday in immediate appearance for “direct provocation to an act of terrorism” and will have to explain a video, since removed, calling for “burn alive, kill and rape on French soil”. On Sunday evening, an Algerian influencer nicknamed Doualemn was arrested in Montpellier because he published a TikTok video in which he calls for “kill” et “to cause pain” a demonstrator opposed to the government of Algiers. Montpellier prosecutor Fabrice Belargent told AFP on Monday that he would not communicate “only when the direction of the case has been decided”.