Family of policeman killed in Paris shooting request Muslim burial

The family of the Muslim police officer who was shot dead by hooded gunmen on Wednesday during a massacre in the office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo wish to bury him in France’s only private cemetery for Muslim burials.

According to France’s daily newspaper Le Figaro, Ahmed Merabet’s family would like to bury him at the Bobigny cemetery situated near Paris.

Bobigny cemetery was opened in 1934 and is a burial ground for some 7,000 Muslims, mostly from North Africa.

According to French law, Muslims must be buried in coffins which goes against tradition which states a burial on the day of death and that the corpse be wrapped in a simple shroud.

Merabet, who was killed by hooded gunmen on the streets of Paris while he begged for his life, is originally from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb outside of Paris.

He had been working for the French police for eight years and was a patrolman assigned to the 11th arrondissement - the Paris neighborhood where Charlie Hebdo’s office is located, according to Le Figaro.

The slain 41-year-old, who was reportedly married, had recently been promoted to a police officer, according to the French daily.

Speaking about Merabet’s death, Rocco Contento, a spokesman for the Unité police union, said: “He was a very discreet, conscientious [man]. We are all extremely shocked.”

During the attack, another officer, who was assigned to protect Charlie Hebdo’s editor, was killed. The identity of the 48-year-old has not yet been confirmed.