INVESTIGATIONS following every act of violence in European countries normally lead security authorities to the past of an individual belonging to the immigrant working class; he joins his supposedly holy cause being unable to adjust himself in the society he was either raised or born in, or as in a number of cases, both.
But when you dig further into the particular case of Farid Ikken, you are astounded by the unexpected revelations in absolute contradiction with his apparently peaceful nature.
Born in Algeria in 1977 and a brilliant student, Ikken completed his studies in journalism in his home country before joining the University of Stockholm where he learned the Swedish language and computer science. In 2014 he won another scholarship at the University of Lorraine in the city of Metz in eastern France. Here he studied for a doctorate in the ‘Science of Information’, in other words journalism with complete knowledge of the modern means of news dissemination such as computers, internet, radio and television.
According to a number of witnesses Ikken’s heart was in his country of origin where he wanted to return and teach the science of avant-garde communication to younger generations.
His most coveted theme, as he always claimed, was the way democratic elections are held and are covered by the media in the European countries. He often said: “I am fascinated by the manner voting and parliamentary procedures are reported by the Press and television here. Once back in Algeria, I will start a newspaper or a TV network that will specialise in describing the elections and the national assembly or senate sessions.”
Was he a good student and a well-behaved individual?
In the words of Prof Arnaud Mercier who was his PhD supervisor at the University of Lorraine in Metz: “He was not only brilliant as a student but was also thousands of miles away from all the ideological attachments that are usually linked with terrorism. He was intelligent, well-behaved and gentle as a lamb.”
During an interview at BFM-TV Prof Mercier further said: “He was also attached to me in a most humble and polite fashion. When I was transferred to Paris two years ago, he insisted on following me. Touched by his persistence, I succeeded in having his scholarship moved to the same university where I am teaching now.”
When questioned by a number of reporters, the personnel and many of the residents at Cergy-Pontoise students’ hostel near Paris where Ikken was lodged for the past two years, confirmed Prof Mercier’s version. Their declarations were unanimous: “An extremely polite and well-dressed young man who was always seen walking calmly, often carrying books and lost in his thoughts.”
Last Tuesday the same polite and well-dressed gentleman walked calmly in front of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Seeing three security guards on duty he approached them, raising his hand and saying: “I need some information.”
Once close enough to a policeman, Ikken pulled a hammer out of his backpack and hit him on the head, yelling at the same time: “And this one is for Syria!”
One of the guards raised his gun and fired a shot. As the bullet brushed past his thorax, Ikken fell to the ground bleeding profusely. In his backpack were also found a number of knives.
While currently under surveillance in a police hospital, the journalism student claims to be a ‘holy soldier’ who had been preparing for action for many years.
On his part, Prof Mercier appearing in another TV interview said: “Though I have not been in contact with Ikken for some time, what he did leaves me totally stupefied. I always thought he was a firm believer in democratic values and was a champion of journalistic ideals.”
The writer is a journalist based in Paris.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2017
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