"Useful idiot of the Muslim Brotherhood": Marseille mayor Benoît Payan threatened with death over couscous

The left-wing mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan , has filed a complaint against an unknown person after receiving several death threats and hateful comments on social media.

The reason for this outpouring of hatred? Couscous that the elected official ate at a Marseille food festival. It was thanks to a video posted on X by a public account, in which he is seen eating this dish of North African origin, that the messages multiplied in just a few hours.

In total, 25 hateful messages are reported in the complaint for "threats of death or damage to property that are dangerous to people against an elected official." One of them, published Sunday afternoon, consists of a photo showing a blindfolded man about to be hanged, with two armed and hooded individuals in the background. The photo is accompanied by a message insulting the mayor of Marseille, calling him "the useful idiot of the Muslim Brotherhood ."

In order to denounce the events, the Marseille mayor decided to repost a large number of these messages, some of which have been described as racist and homophobic. "The death threats and insults of all kinds continue and are intensifying, but they won't stop me," he said. "Marseille and the people of Marseille are stronger than hatred," added Benoît Payan on X.

Several political figures have expressed their support for Benoît Payan, including Sébastien Delogu, LFI MP for Marseille , who regularly criticizes the mayor's policies and is expected to run as a rival candidate in the municipal elections. Carole Delga, the Socialist president of the Occitanie region, and Olivier Rioult, spokesperson for Franck Allisio, the RN's municipal candidate in Marseille, also expressed their support for Benoît Payan.

The event where the video was captured took place in the Noailles district of Marseille. He was accompanied by elected officials and members of the organization. The Kouss.Kouss Festival has been held in the town since 2018. The city is a partner and even organized its own free meal in front of the town hall.