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| French Muslim singer quits TV show amid row over online posts | French Muslim singer quits TV show amid row over online posts |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Muslim singer who became an internet sensation following her performance on France's The Voice has quit the TV show after being criticised for comments she had made on social media. | A Muslim singer who became an internet sensation following her performance on France's The Voice has quit the TV show after being criticised for comments she had made on social media. |
| In one post, Mennel Ibtissem, 22, had expressed doubts about the terrorist nature of the 2016 Nice lorry attack. | In one post, Mennel Ibtissem, 22, had expressed doubts about the terrorist nature of the 2016 Nice lorry attack. |
| She said the message from the day after the attack was taken out of context. | She said the message from the day after the attack was taken out of context. |
| A video of her singing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah had gone viral, being watched 900,000 times on YouTube. | A video of her singing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah had gone viral, being watched 900,000 times on YouTube. |
| The social media comments, which have now been deleted, emerged after her acclaimed performance on the programme. | The social media comments, which have now been deleted, emerged after her acclaimed performance on the programme. |
| French media reported that in a post about the attack in Nice, in which 86 people were killed on Bastille Day, she said: "It has become a routine, one attack a week! | |
| "And to always remain faithful the 'terrorist' took his identity papers with him. It's true that, when you're planning a dirty move, you don't forget to take your papers." | "And to always remain faithful the 'terrorist' took his identity papers with him. It's true that, when you're planning a dirty move, you don't forget to take your papers." |
| The message reportedly included the hashtag "#PrenezNousPourDesCons", meaning "take us for idiots". | The message reportedly included the hashtag "#PrenezNousPourDesCons", meaning "take us for idiots". |
| The driver of the lorry was identified as a 31-year-old Tunisian man. | The driver of the lorry was identified as a 31-year-old Tunisian man. |
| Weeks later, after men burst into a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray killing an elderly priest, she said: "The real terrorist is our government." | Weeks later, after men burst into a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray killing an elderly priest, she said: "The real terrorist is our government." |
| The comments sparked a social media storm, with some users saying it was an insult to the victims of the Nice attack. The association of the victims said they were "unacceptable" (statement in French). | The comments sparked a social media storm, with some users saying it was an insult to the victims of the Nice attack. The association of the victims said they were "unacceptable" (statement in French). |
| Pressure also piled on broadcaster TF1, The Voice's producers, to remove the singer from the competition. | Pressure also piled on broadcaster TF1, The Voice's producers, to remove the singer from the competition. |
| Others, however, came to the singer's defence, saying she was being unfairly targeted for being a Muslim. | Others, however, came to the singer's defence, saying she was being unfairly targeted for being a Muslim. |
| After the posts emerged, Ms Ibtissem apologised, saying she "obviously condemned terrorism". But on Friday, she announced she was leaving the programme. | After the posts emerged, Ms Ibtissem apologised, saying she "obviously condemned terrorism". But on Friday, she announced she was leaving the programme. |
| In a video posted on Facebook in English she said: "I've never meant to hurt anyone and the idea that I would do it on purpose pains me a lot. | In a video posted on Facebook in English she said: "I've never meant to hurt anyone and the idea that I would do it on purpose pains me a lot. |
| "[I'll] keep spreading my message of peace and tolerance, far from all types of fanaticism." | "[I'll] keep spreading my message of peace and tolerance, far from all types of fanaticism." |
| The announcement in French has been watched more than 500,000 times, with hundreds of users expressing support to her. | The announcement in French has been watched more than 500,000 times, with hundreds of users expressing support to her. |
| TF1 has not yet commented. | TF1 has not yet commented. |