The French parliament has observed a minute’s silence in honour of Noahm, a teenager who was killed in an alleged homophobic attack on 30 May.
The young man died in hospital from his injuries on 2 June 2026. He has been identified in the media only by his first name.
The 19-year-old was out with friends in the city of Metz, around 300km east of Paris near the borders of Germany and Luxembourg. His friends told police that a group of men accused them of filming them on their mobile phones before allegedly attacking the teenager. They also said the attackers shouted homophobic slurs during the assault.
On 9 June, the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, paused to observe a minute’s silence and acknowledge the teenager’s death.
“The nation’s emotions also ran very high after the murder of Noahm, victim of a real lynching in the streets of Metz,” National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said as she called for the tribute.
“In our Republic, no one – absolutely no one – should be insulted, harassed, or killed for being who they are, for loving,” she added.
Deputy Marie-Charlotte Garin said it was important that the chamber acknowledged the alleged motive behind the teenager’s death.
“Madame President, because words are important, please permit me to say on this floor that Noahm was killed because he was gay, because of homophobia,” she said, receiving applause from other members.
Two men, aged 20 and 27, have been arrested over the alleged assault.
Initially, police did not charge the suspects with a hate crime, prompting LGBTIQA+ groups to call for the case to be reviewed. Police and prosecutors have since indicated they may consider amending the charges.
The advocacy organisation SOS Homophobie estimates that around 1,800 anti-gay attacks occurred in France in 2025.
