PARIS — A 24-year-old Malian immigrant who hid a group of hostages during a terror attack at a kosher supermarket was awarded French citizenship Tuesday in a ceremony that showcased his courage and selflessness. Lassana Bathily, who has lived in France for about nine years and filed his citizenship papers last summer, was fast-tracked for citizenship, sparing him from the notoriously arduous process of becoming a naturalized Frenchman. Bathily, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, walked into Tuesdays ceremony flanked by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. He stood with his head bowed and his hands clasped as Cazeneuve praised his actions as the highest gesture of Islam and peace and welcomed him as the newest citizen at the heart of this country.[...] Bathily was working at a Hyper Cacher store on Jan. 9 when it was attacked by Islamist gunman Amedy Coulibaly, the radicalized son of Malian immigrants. Four hostages were killed before police shot Coulibaly dead. According to accounts given to French media and to a friend who spoke to The Associated Press, Bathily was in the stores basement when the attacker burst in upstairs. Bathily then hid a group of frightened shoppers, including a 2-year-old-child, inside the freezer before escaping to communicate with police. Security officials initially thought he was the attacker, and he was forced to the ground and handcuffed.[...] The Jewish owner of Hyper Cacher, Michel Emsalem, attended Tuesdays ceremony, and called Bathily a hero. He represents a big message for many people, especially for us, Emsalem said. Pierre Henry, the president of the French governments refugee assistance agency, described Bathily as a righteous one among the righteous who should serve as a role model to our youth. He added: Lassana Bathily enriches us by joining the French nation. Soumare Dzebril, a friend of Bathilys from the African Soccer Club who attended Tuesdays ceremony said: He is a hero to me but he is someone very humble. He added: We are all very proud of him.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:48:06 +0000
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