Mamoudou Gassama: Spiderman's Paris rescue raises questions about Europe’s treatment of migrants
Malian hero is offered instant citizenship days after forced clearance of Paris camps is announced
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It was a rescue which wowed the world and made Mamoudou Gassama a national hero in France.
The Malian migrant's death-defying four-storey ascent of a Paris building to save a dangling child won him an invitation to the presidential palace and a personal promise of citizenship from Emmanuel Macron.
But amid the celebrations of this extraordinary feat, the French government has now come in for sharp criticism for its apparent double standards.
British MP David Lammy was among those to ask: Does a person really have to do something so extraordinary to stand a chance of becoming a citizen?
“I don't think that ‘migrants’ should have to behave like superheroes before they are treated like human beings,” Lammy tweeted. “Being a human being should be the only prerequisite to being treated like a human being. And that applies in the UK just as much as France.”
Fatima Manji, the Channel Four correspondent, suggested the events were “tinged” with sadness. “Man from Mali, an ex-French colony, has to risk his life and prove exceptional to be rewarded with French Citizenship,” she posted.
Others pointed out how, just days before Mr Macron sat smiling with Mr Gassama, France had ordered the forced closure of several migrant camps in Paris.
More than 2,500 people will be left homeless by the mass clearance in the city’s 19th arrondissement, reports the AP news agency.
The growing disquiet came as more details were revealed about the hero’s torrid journey to – and life in – France.
After leaving his home town of Yaguine in south-western Mali in 2013, the 22-year-old – then still a teenager – travelled across the Sahara Desert through Burkina Faso, Niger and Libya before crossing the Mediterranean to Italy in 2014. From there, he moved onto France where his brother lived, the BBC reports.
During his meeting with Mr Macron on Monday, he admitted he had been working cash-in-hand on building sites in Paris and lived in a hostel where he shared a room and mattress with several other men.
He had not applied for asylum and was living illegally in France when Saturday's incident unfolded.
He said he did not think of his legal status during the rescue. He told French broadcaster BFMTV afterwards: “I did not think, I saved him.”
He added: “When I took him in my arms, I spoke with him and asked: ‘Why did you do that?’ But he did not answer.”
Further developments happened on Tuesday as the grandmother of the four-year-old child – still unnamed – labelled Mr Gassama “truly a hero”.
Also speaking to BFMTV, she said: “My God, I was very shocked. My grandson, my grandson, save him! Thankfully he knew how to climb, because there were a lot of people below but he didn't just fold his arms. He raced up to the fourth floor. That was truly incredible. He was very brave.”
The boy’s father – who prosecutors now say was out playing Pokemon Go – is still being questioned by police. The child is currently in care.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments