TikTok video sparks debate over racism and exclusion in French mountain spaces
A deleted TikTok clip celebrating a "white-only" Alpine landscape provoked racist comments and a viral counter-movement of diverse hikers asserting their right to the mountains.
An August TikTok video that declared the French Alps a space reserved for white people ignited a surge of racist and Islamophobic remarks, urging residents of the banlieues to remain in their neighborhoods. The backlash prompted a viral movement where diverse hikers, many wearing hijab, posted their own footage under the chant "Wallah, we’re coming" to claim the mountains as inclusive. Zeynab Alabbar, co-founder of the modest sportswear label Kamak, and hikers such as Jumia Alaoui recounted being stared at, questioned, or outright excluded while hiking in France, a contrast to their experiences in Switzerland and other countries.
Academics like Lea Sallenave explained that Alpine recreation has been dominated by a white-centric image, reinforcing exclusionary attitudes. NGOs such as Apart reported similar hostility toward groups from disadvantaged suburbs, while sociologists warned that these attitudes reflect broader nationalist narratives that deny minorities the right to enjoy natural spaces.
Why it matters
It reveals how racism and far-right rhetoric are extending into public outdoor spaces, limiting equal access to nature in France.
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