Pascal Boniface, a prominent French geopolitician, faced intense criticism after referring to Karim Bouamrane, the mayor of Saint-Ouen, as a "muslim d'apparence" in a tweet.

This comment, made after Bouamrane's appearance on a TV show where he chose not to discuss the Middle East conflict, was widely condemned by political figures.

Bouamrane, a rising star in the Socialist Party, expressed his indignation, emphasizing his long-standing commitment to the Republic.

The backlash led to the cancellation of the "Internationales" conference in Dijon, a decision made by the city's mayor, François Rebsamen, who cited the need to uphold values of inclusion and mutual respect.

Boniface has since apologized for his "clumsy" wording but maintained his stance on the broader issues concerning Gaza.