300 Moroccan families escape upsurge of racism in Corsica (paper)

Three hundred Corsica-settled Moroccan families escaped the a worrying upsurge of racism in the French Island, to Le Gard (Southern France), Le Parisien reported Tuesday.

The exodus is gaining in intensity, the paper said, adding that the Moroccans dare not even talk about this problem to avoid reprisals against their co-citizens still in Corsica.

"There, we were called the Arabs. Here, they call us the Corsicans," the paper goes, quoting Moroccans who had choose between death or departure.

"I chose to pack up for Nimes, after 26 years in the land where I was born, and where my wife was born, said one Moroccan national who fled the Island in 1999, when hatred rose against Maghreban nationals."

He required anonymity for his parents are still in Corsica.

"Actually, as long as our parents worked in farms and building, it was fine, but the second generation, who could claim more worthy positions, had one answer: look for a job in Metropolitan France."

Police carried out Monday an operation against the armed group dubbed "Clandestini Corsi" that claimed responsibility in 7 anti-Maghreban attacks in Corsica. Some ten people, including alleged members of the group and relatives.