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Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes

Editorial published on June 01, 2018

Saturday, May 26, in Paris, a young man does not hesitate to climb, with his bare hands, the building where a four-year-old child is hanging from a fourth-floor balcony. The impressive scene, filmed by witnesses, is immediately relayed on the Internet. By this courageous gesture, Mamoudou Gassama, who the international press already calls “the French Spider-Man”, becomes in a few hours a hero.

Of Malian origin and residing in France since 2014, Mamoudou does not have a residence permit. President Emmanuel Macron received him at the Élysée Palace and announced that he would be granted French citizenship and that he would benefit from a 10 months contract with the fireman. This news is perceived by some as a form of political hijacking from a government that has toughened French migration policy. The highly controversial asylum-immigration bill passed first reading by the Congressmen in April.

France and Europe have been struggling to welcome migrants with dignity and the far-right parties have been making xenophobic speeches against them. In this respect, the story of Mamoudou Gassama reminds us that a hero can hide behind every migrant!

To see our previous weekly editorials on international news, take a look here!

  • Tjeerd Royaards (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands), Cartoon Movement
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Tjeerd Royaards (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands), Cartoon Movement
  • Dilem (Algérie / Algeria), Liberté
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Dilem (Algérie / Algeria), Liberté
    "After climbing up a building and saving a kid, Mamoudou Gassama is received at the Élysée Palace." "It's on the top floor!"
  • Vadot (Belgique / Belgium), Le Vif/L’Express
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Vadot (Belgique / Belgium), Le Vif/L’Express
    "My hero!"
  • Soulcié (France), La Revue dessinée
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Soulcié (France), La Revue dessinée
    "Mamoudou granted citizenship" "Now that you are French, don't you dare save a migrant." "Otherwise prison!"
  • Mykaïa (France)
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Mykaïa (France)
    "An undocumented migrant is granted the French citizenship after saving a baby who was dangling from a balcony." "The moral is: if you are a migrant, it's better to know how to climb than how to swim."
  • Stephff (Thaïlande / Thailand), The Nation
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Stephff (Thaïlande / Thailand), The Nation
    "Examen de citoyenneté française"
  • Maarten Wolterink (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands)
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Maarten Wolterink (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands)
    "Héros / Zéro"
  • Million (France)
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Million (France)
    "After climbing a building to save a child, he is granted French citizenship." "We climb mountains..." "And as a reward..." "We get dumped!"
  • Delambre (France), Le Canard enchaîné
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Delambre (France), Le Canard enchaîné
    "Hero's apprentice, be careful! (Old joke)" "Can you imagine, if Macron gave us a job..." "A flat, papers, a medal!"
  • Lectrr (Belgique / Belgium), De Standaard
    Mamoudou Gassama: a Hero among Heroes - Lectrr (Belgique / Belgium), De Standaard
    "An undocumented immigrant saves a French child..." "You see these migrants who come to steal our jobs?"
  • Tjeerd Royaards (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands), Cartoon Movement
  • Dilem (Algérie / Algeria), Liberté
  • Vadot (Belgique / Belgium), Le Vif/L’Express
  • Soulcié (France), La Revue dessinée
  • Mykaïa (France)
  • Stephff (Thaïlande / Thailand), The Nation
  • Maarten Wolterink (Pays-Bas / The Netherlands)
  • Million (France)
  • Delambre (France), Le Canard enchaîné
  • Lectrr (Belgique / Belgium), De Standaard