Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

France calls for calm after Corsican nationalist dies from prison assault

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Mar 2022 14:58
3 Min Read

The Corsican nationalist Yvan Colonna was being held in a prison in southern France over the assassination of a senior French official in 1998.

  • x
  • Corsican nationalist dies from assault in prison
    Yvan Colonna in July 2003 (AFP)

The French government issued an appeal for calm on Tuesday, following the death of imprisoned Corsican nationalist Yvan Colonna, which prompted concerns of more bloodshed on the French Mediterranean island.

Colonna was allegedly attacked by a fellow inmate on March 2 in a prison in southern France where he was being held for the 1998 assassination of a senior French government official. Those who consider Colonna a hero of independence were outraged.

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday that a call for calm and dialogue is needed, adding that "everything will be done to shed light on events which led to this unacceptable situation."

A suspected "Islamic extremist" was responsible for the fatal blow after he left Colonna in a coma. An inquiry into the attack is underway.

Colonna's lawyer Patrice Spinosi told AFP on Monday that his family requests respect for its grief and will not be making any comments.

Colonna died in a hospital in Marseille, after the French judiciary suspended his sentence due to medical injuries on March 17.

Last Wednesday, Paris announced it might offer Corsica "autonomy" to ease tensions between the Mediterranean island's fervent independence movement and the French state, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin claimed.

President Emmanuel Macron stated that the matter should not be considered "taboo", but that there must be an end to the disturbance before a debate can take place.

Last Thursday, Macron said, "It is a debate that cannot take place until there is absolute calm."

Colonna was apprehended in 2003 following a five-year quest that led to his discovery as a shepherd in the Corsican Alps. He was later sentenced to life in jail for assassinating Corsica's senior provincial politician, Claude Erignac, in 1998.

Darmanin's remarks last week and subsequent visit to Corsica allegedly helped to defuse tensions, but it remains to be seen how nationalists respond to Colonna's death.

Colonna's supporters have long advocated for his release or, at the very least, his transfer from continental France to a Corsican jail out of fear for his health and life.

Gilles Simeoni, the leader of Corsica's pro-autonomy regional council, told AFP that Darmanin's proposals are "important words that open up prospects, but they ought now to be extended and firmed up."

The National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC), which laid down its arms in 2014, warned that if Paris remained in a state of "contemptuous denial", it could resume its fight.

Red lines

According to a memorandum agreed on by Darmanin and Simeoni, independence talks are scheduled for April and will be concluded by the end of 2022.

Attal highlighted the government's "red lines" on Tuesday — that "Corsica remains a part of the republic and the fact that we will never accept that there are two categories of people in the republic."

  • National Liberation Front of Corsica
  • Prison assault
  • Paris
  • France
  • Corsica

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS