Login to Continue Learning
French authorities have arrested a Moroccan man who allegedly lit a cigarette using the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris. The incident was captured on video and drew outrage from French leaders.
The suspect, a 47-year-old legal resident in France, could face severe penalties if found guilty. According to the New York Times, violating a burial site can lead to the revocation of his residency status.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains remains of a soldier killed during World War I and is located under the Arc de Triomphe as a monument to France’s war dead. The flame has burned continuously since 1923.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that the man who desecrated the tomb by lighting a cigarette with the eternal flame was arrested in Paris for violating a burial site, tomb, urn, or monument erected in memory of the dead. He admitted to the facts and will face trial, potentially facing up to one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 Euros.
Patricia Miralles, French minister for veterans and remembrance, condemned the act: “This flame does not light a cigarette; it burns for the sacrifice of millions of our soldiers. This is an insult to our dead, to our history, and to our nation.”
The man’s trial will take place in Paris, highlighting the seriousness with which France views such acts of desecration.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
What was the Moroccan man arrested for?
Please login or register to take the quiz and earn points!
