France protests: A look at the origins of the slogan “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” – in which other countries has it appeared? | Today’s news
The peculiar French phrase “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” has become an unlikely rallying cry among student protesters in France. What started as a viral screenshot of a Snapchat conversation has evolved into a protest slogan appearing on banners, signs and social media posts across Europe.
The phrase, which loosely translates as “In the name of God, it’s darkness”, has attracted attention for its alleged connection to secret police officers attempting to infiltrate student protest groups. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg also repeated the expression during a visit to striking students in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on October 13.
According to Euronews, the slogan appeared at demonstrations in Belgium and Italy, while students at a French school in Berlin were also photographed holding a banner with the phrase.
What does “Bismillah, this is darkness” mean?
The expression combines Arabic and French slang. “Bismillah” means “in the name of God” in Arabic and is traditionally used by Muslims before starting an activity. In common French slang, it can also express an expression similar to “let’s go”.
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Meanwhile, “C’est les ténèbres” translates to “it’s the darkness.” According to Euronews, the term is used by young people to describe a situation that is particularly bleak, catastrophic or hopeless.
The combination of these two expressions has no coherent meaning. Its absurdity is part of its appeal, as students use it to mock outsiders’ attempts to imitate the language and expressions of young people.
How did the slogan come about?
The phrase emerged from a screenshot of a Snapchat conversation that began circulating in early October, where French students were using private message groups to coordinate school blockades and demonstrations.
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In the screenshot, a user identified as “Mamadou” allegedly tried to enter the student group with the message: “Hey in the name of God it’s dark here. When is the blockade wallah bro?”
The message also included an Algerian flag emoji. Other screenshots showed similar accounts asking students about planned blockades and the availability of fireworks and smoke grenades.
The students suspected that these accounts belonged to undercover police officers posing as teenagers to gain access to private protest groups. They interpreted the awkward combination of Arabic expressions, French street slang and national flag emoticons as a failed attempt to imitate the young protesters.
However, the allegation has not been independently proven.
French police and the country’s interior ministry did not comment on the screenshots, Euronews reported on October 19.
In which other countries has the slogan appeared?
The expression reached beyond the borders of France and found its way to demonstrations and student meetings in other European countries.
Appeared in the following places:
Belgium: A slogan displayed on banners during a trade union-led demonstration in Brussels on October 9 against budget cuts by the Belgian government. Its use was also seen as a gesture of solidarity with French students.
Read also | Protests in France: Cars set on fire, shops looted, police arrest 272 protesters
Italy: This sentence appeared in student demonstrations in Bologna on October 15. It was subsequently performed in Milan during protests on 17 and 18 October, including a rally in Piazza del Duomo.
The term has also caught on online, appearing in parody videos, memes and social media posts.
Why are students protesting in France?
The student movement began in Créteil, southeast of Paris, on September 18 before spreading to other parts of the country.
Protesters expressed concerns about long school days, overcrowded classrooms, poorly maintained school buildings and recurring teacher shortages. Many argue that these issues disproportionately affect students from working-class neighborhoods and minority communities.
The protests gained momentum during this month. About 400 schools were reportedly closed due to the October 2 blockades.
The student demonstrations also coincided with nationwide protests against the rising cost of living on 17 October. These demonstrations were followed by incidents of rioting and looting in several areas.
France to deploy military forces to Saturday’s protests
France will deploy military personnel to support police operations during protests planned for Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told lawmakers on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
“We will deploy Sentinelle units, of course as a replacement for internal security forces… mostly for the Free Police and Gendarmes in their mission to maintain order,” Nunez told the National Assembly.
His words came after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that security measures for Saturday’s demonstrations would be “massive”. Lecornu also said his aim was to ensure an “immediate return to order” after a weekend marked by violent unrest.
