Controversial Rap Song Amid French Protests

A rap song mentioning jihadists linked to deadly attacks in France has surfaced in videos recorded during student protests and at a church. The song, “MRH” by rapper BORO700, references figures such as Mohamed Merah, who killed a teacher and three children at a Jewish school in Toulouse in 2012, and Salah Abdeslam, convicted for his part in the 2015 Paris attacks. Notably, the lyrics also mention the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 people were killed.

One social media video shows students at François-Villon high school in Beaugency singing the song during a school blockade on October 1. The students were heard chanting French lyrics translated to English as: “Like Mohamed Merah, dodging the cameras,” and “Bataclan, I shot him with my eyes, manhunt, Salah Abdeslam.” French media reported the Orléans prosecutor’s office initiated a preliminary investigation into “apology for terrorism,” leading to three minors being held in police custody on October 7. This term refers to justifying terrorism or presenting acts or perpetrators positively, potentially constituting a criminal offense.

The investigation focuses on the lyrics and not the students’ motivations. The song is also present in a video from October 4, filmed at Saint-Hilaire church in Soullans, Western France. The municipality urged residents not to share the footage, warning about potential tensions. Mayor Vincent Jolly emphasized an “educational, thoughtful and proportionate” response, discouraging association of the local incident with terrorism or larger national issues. Simultaneously, investigations are ongoing by the La Roche-sur-Yon prosecutor’s office.

Rapper BORO700 faces charges including apology for terrorism and a conditional death threat in a separate Paris court case. This is distinct from the youth-related video investigations.

The History Behind the References

The song’s references evoke strong public reactions. Between March 11 and 19, 2012, Mohamed Merah, of French-Algerian descent, executed a series of attacks in Toulouse and Montauban, claiming seven lives, including two soldiers, a rabbi, and three Jewish children. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy countered these acts, stating, “The Islamic faith has nothing to do with the insane motivations of this man.” Merah recorded his attacks using a GoPro, incorporating music and Qur’anic verses.

Salah Abdeslam survived as the lone member of the ISIS cell responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks. These attacks left 130 dead and injured over 490, with the deadliest occurring at the Bataclan, a historic theater and concert venue. Other lines in the song mention a bounty in hell, threatening to “pull an Adolf Hitler” on another rapper. Though the wording uses slang, references to Merah, Abdeslam, and the Bataclan are explicit.

Protests Have Wider Grievances

These videos surfaced amid broader high school protests in France since September 28, leading to hundreds of school closures. Students expressed concerns about school funding, teacher and staff shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure. Protests have included students setting fires, manning barricades, attacking teachers, and clashing with police forces.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, addressing parliament, accused the leftist La France Insoumise (LFI) party of creating chaos ahead of the presidential elections in seven months. The videos alone do not prove that the broad protest shares the song’s references or beliefs but they have entered a politically charged debate.

Trump Weighs In on France’s Protests

The videos emerged amid a heated discussion over the student protests. Some online accounts have framed the protests as a signal about Western immigration and political shifts. Former President Donald Trump commented on the unrest, alleging, “What’s happening in France is nothing less than out-of-control mass migration. This isn’t about schools; this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great country!” His claim lacks evidence and echoes past criticism of European immigration policies.

The French government countered external interpretations of the protests. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot informed a parliamentary committee that they are actively working on promoting France’s narrative to prevent being subject to others’ versions.