French Students Turn ‘Bismillah’ Phrase Into Protest Slogan

The phrase “Bismillah, c’est les ténèbres” has become a mocking rallying cry for student protesters in France, who use it to criticize what they see as authorities’ failed imitation of young people and racial stereotyping. Its alleged origin in messages sent to private student groups remains unverified. The expression combines the Arabic phrase “bismillah,” meaning “in the name of God,” with the French “c’est les ténèbres,” or “it’s the darkness.” The words do not form a coherent phrase, and their awkwardness is central to the joke. Protesters have displayed it on placards and shared it online, turning it into a symbol of tensions between demonstrators and authorities. Screenshots circulating in early October appeared to show a Snapchat user trying to enter private groups where students organized protests and school blockades. The sender reportedly used names including Mamadou and Abdellah and wrote in a mixture of Arabic expressions and French slang. Students suspected the account belonged to an undercover police officer attempting to gather information, but the sender’s identity and connection to law enforcement have not been verified. France’s Interior Ministry said...