The protesters claimed to be acting in revenge for an incident that occurred the day prior when firefighters and police were assaulted in the neighbourhood of Les Jardins de l'Empereur;[5] however, outside observers labeled the ensuing riots as anti-Arab and anti-Muslim.
[1] The Corsican nationalist politicians have claimed their view does not legitimise xenophobia, blaming the protest on French nationalism instead.
"[8] He further noted the result of "those who have never accepted French rule... and have never ceased to fight for the survival of the Corsican nation" and also called for amnesty for "political prisoners" and "those still in hiding."
[4] A local official, François Lalanne, said a fire was deliberately lit in the area and when the emergency services arrived they were attacked.
[13] On 25 December, a Muslim prayer hall in Les Jardins de l'Empereur was burned with at least part of a Quran set on fire.
On 27 December, following the initial arson, as well as a consequent protest ban, several hundred people marched in Corsica, though they avoided the affected neighbourhood, instead rallying in other areas.
Nordine Doudouch got 10 months in prison for transporting weapons, and Abdelkarim El Youssfi received a six-month suspended sentence and community service for trespassing and vandalism.
[12] In response the National Front issued a statement that read "the unacceptable violence which shook Ajaccio on 25 December is the unfortunately expected consequence of lax and weak politics, which leaves neighbourhoods to become no-go areas where representatives of the emergency services are assaulted daily.
"[12] Olivier de Germay, Bishop of Ajaccio, condemned the violence, stating that "those who commit violent acts in the name of the Christian faith are fooling themselves.
However, Emmanuel Martin of the Institute for Economic Studies in Europe noted that the protesters were chanting in Corsican and displaying the island's flag, theorising that the alleged xenophobia would be stronger in Corsica where some locals already believe that their homeland has been colonised by the French.