Means to protect Moroccan community in Corsica probed following aggressions

Morocco's ambassador in France, Hassan Abouyoub, has held several work sessions with French officials to probe means for the protection of the Moroccan community in Corsica, after an upsurge of aggressions against Moroccans established in the French island, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday in a release.

The release added that the Moroccan consul expressed to Corsican authorities concern over the rise of violence against the Moroccan community's interests in the island. He also urged them to take the necessary measures to guarantee the security of its members and protect their interests.

Moroccan diplomatic authorities have conducted an awareness action among French political parties, unions and civil society which systematically condemn these actions.

The communiqué underlines that French authorities have continuously denounced these xenophobic acts and have expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Moroccan victims.

The French authorities have mobilized to face this situation and stop the aggressions, which also target other foreigners, particularly Maghrebans, the same source points out.

In an interview with the Moroccan daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc," mayor of the city of Bastia, Emile Zucarelli, said aggressions committed against Moroccans living in Corsica are the deed of a minority that is definitely not representative of the majority of the French.

"There are no more racist people in Corsica than elsewhere," said the French official.

The latest act of violence against Moroccans in Corsica was a bomb attack that destroyed a car belonging to a Moroccan family.