Latest news with #UnknownSoldier
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Viral video shows man lighting cigarette from Paris' eternal flame
Source: Getty Images A man in Paris is facing legal action and possible expulsion from France after he lit his cigarette from the country's eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The incident took place beneath the Arc de Triomphe, a site that honors soldiers who died for France. The man, identified as a 47-year-old Moroccan immigrant, was caught on video stepping over a chain barrier and bending toward the flame. Tourists were nearby, and some filmed the moment. The footage quickly spread on social media, drawing sharp criticism from politicians and veterans' groups. French police arrested him soon after the video appeared online. He has been charged with violating a war memorial, which is a criminal offense in France. The man has been handed a three-month suspended sentence, according to Ireland's National Public Service Multi-Media Organisation, Raidió Teilifís Éireann. As per the report, admitted his actions during an expedited trial, describing his behavior as "the stupidity of the century. " France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, condemned the act on social media, calling it 'unworthy and deplorable.' He said it insulted the memory of those who had fought and died for the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emma & Mia Are Retiring — Their Handmade Jewelry Is 80% Off Sedona Daily Post Read More Undo The French daily Le Figaro reported that the man was already known to police. He has been in trouble before. The interior ministry has announced that his residency permit will be revoked. This move could lead to his deportation to Morocco. The significance of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath Paris's Arc de Triomphe is one of France's most important symbols of remembrance. It honors all soldiers who gave their lives for the nation in World War I but whose identities were never known. The idea was first proposed in 1916, while the war was still raging and its outcome uncertain. On November 12, 1919, one year and a day after the armistice, the concept received formal recognition. Officials decided that the chosen soldier's remains would be placed in the Panthéon, the grand resting place of France's most celebrated citizens. However, the public felt the memorial should be more accessible and visible. After a large-scale letter-writing campaign, the government agreed to bury the Unknown Soldier at the base of the Arc de Triomphe, a central monument already associated with French military triumph and sacrifice. The Arc de Triomphe stands at the heart of Paris, where twelve grand avenues converge, making it a focal point of national ceremonies. Beneath it, the Unknown Soldier came to represent every soldier who never returned home. In 1923, the eternal flame was lit at the tomb. It burns without interruption, representing the nation's unending gratitude and the enduring memory of the fallen. The flame is rekindled each evening in a solemn ritual attended by veterans and officials.
Local France
09-08-2025
- Local France
Man who lit cigarette at Paris flame memorial given suspended sentence
The man, whose name was given as Hakim H., was found guilty of desecrating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by a Paris criminal court. "I deeply regret this, I apologise to all French people," the 47-year-old construction worker said, before bursting into tears in the dock during the expedited trial. The man, who lives in Normandy and sleeps at his workplace in Paris during the week, admitted the charges against him, calling his action "the stupidity of the century." The Moroccan citizen who holds French residency papers said he had acted under the influence of alcohol and medicines. He was also fined a symbolic euro and ordered to seek treatment for alcohol and drug addictions. Advertisement The video of a man stooping and lighting up from the fire at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe, before walking calmly away watched by tourists, caused indignation when it was widely shared on social media. The incident happened on Monday evening and the man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon, police told AFP. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has stood under the Arc of Triumph since 1920 to commemorate the country's dead from World War I.
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Newsweek
Moroccan Man Charged With Using Paris' Eternal Flame to Light Cigarette
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. French authorities have arrested a Moroccan man after he allegedly lit a cigarette off a memorial in Paris. The moment at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which includes an ever-burning flame, under the Arc de Triomphe was caught on video, leading to outrage from French leaders. Newsweek reached out to the French Interior Ministry for comment via email Wednesday afternoon. Why It Matters Like the U.S., France has been riven by internal debate over immigration as hundreds of thousands of migrants have flocked to the country every year over the last decade, with the majority coming from Africa in recent years. Lawmakers have struggled to find ways to manage the flow of immigrants into the country, as well as those using France as a through-route to the United Kingdom. A man is seen lighting a cigarette at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris, France, on August 4, 2025. A man is seen lighting a cigarette at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris, France, on August 4, 2025. TikTok What To Know French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on X on Tuesday that a man who had "desecrated" the Tomb of the Unknown Solider had been arrested in Paris. His detention came after a video, reportedly initially posted to TikTok, showed a man stepping over the low-level chain fence around the memorial, bending down and lighting his cigarette before walking away on Monday. Man without a care in the world LIGHTS a cigarette using the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris And no one stepped in to stop him... — RT (@RT_com) August 5, 2025 The suspect is a 47-year-old Moroccan man who is a legal resident in France, per the New York Times, meaning he could have his legal status revoked if found guilty of violating a burial site. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains the remains of a soldier killed during the First World War, and it sits under the Arc de Triomphe as a monument to France's war dead. The flame was lit in 1923 and has burned ever since. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Place Charles de Gaulle (Place de l'Etoile), in Paris, on November 11, 2024, as part of the commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918,... The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Place Charles de Gaulle (Place de l'Etoile), in Paris, on November 11, 2024, as part of the commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, armistice to end World War I. More LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Bruno Retailleau, French interior minister, on X: "The man who desecrated the tomb of the Unknown Soldier 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 was taken into custody and admitted to the facts. Following the report made by the Police Prefect [Article 40 of the CPP], he will be brought before the courts. This unworthy and deplorable act undermines the memory of those who died for France." Patricia Miralles, French minister for veterans and remembrance, on X: "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." What Happens Next The man faces a trial in Paris, with a potential sentence of up to a year in prison and a fine of 15,000 Euros.
Calgary Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- Calgary Herald
Unknown Soldier the focus of new Canadian War Museum exhibition
Article content The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of Canada's most powerful symbols of remembrance. Article content Article content The commemorative panel exhibit will mark 25 years since the repatriation of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Article content Article content Article content 'The Unknown Soldier's anonymity makes him a symbol of all Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice in war. Forging a connection between past sacrifices and present-day service, his tomb offers a space for everyone to grieve, reflect and remember those lost in war.' Article content Article content
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Unknown Soldier the focus of new Canadian War Museum exhibition
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of Canada's most powerful symbols of remembrance. And now the Canadian War Museum is adding a new level of poignancy with an exhibition beginning this month and running until May 2026. The commemorative panel exhibit will mark 25 years since the repatriation of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. 'Presented through 18 thoughtfully curated panels, this wall display highlights the history and legacy of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which has become a site of reflection, tribute and collective mourning,' the museum stated in a news release. 'It also explores the ongoing role of his tomb in national remembrance.' 'The Unknown Soldier's anonymity makes him a symbol of all Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice in war. Forging a connection between past sacrifices and present-day service, his tomb offers a space for everyone to grieve, reflect and remember those lost in war.' 'Visitors are invited to reflect on sacrifice, loss and remembrance while deepening their understanding of how Canada honours those who served.' The commemoration will also underline the link between the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Memorial Hall at the Canadian War Museum, where the Unknown Soldier's original headstone is preserved and illuminated each Remembrance Day. The Canadian War Museum, which traces its origins to 1880, is the country's key repository of military history and one of the world's most respected galleries for the study and understanding of armed conflict. Since 2005, it has been located on the LeBreton Flats site in downtown Ottawa. Its collection includes more than three million artifacts, works of art, written documents and much more.
