CAIRO, Jan 13 (Aswat Masriya) – An attack on a satirical French newspaper by what appeared to be Islamists militants has left Arab and Muslim expatriates in the European country expectant of the repercussions.

Gunmen attacked weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo's office in Paris last Wednesday, killing 12.

Aswat Masriya has interviewed a number of Egyptian expatriates residing in France, who shared their experiences on the attack and how it has affected their lives since its occurrence.

El kamash Radwan (44 year-old psychiatrist, in France since 1999, living in Montbéliard)

"Personally, I don't sense change in my life after this terrorist act. But all France [has] change[d] now to struggle against the values of racism, intolerance, and hate of other[s]. They defend the values of their civilisation; freedom of expression and the tolerance of another. Perhaps we will have anti-Islamic reactions in the future because of this aggression under the name of Allah. The French consider this attack like the 9/11 attacks of the United States in 2001."

Yasmine Shelbaya (living in Paris for eight years)

"I live just beside Barbas. I came back from work to be shocked in front of the news. Next day at work, I was the only Muslim in the meeting room, with different French [nationals] from different parts of France. At noon,  I asked for a moment of silence for [the] Charlie Hebdo [victims]. The day was sad; no one talked and work was affected by this general sadness.

"The day the police found the terrorists, [we] had some tension ... I heard from another Egyptian friend that there was some tension in Barbas with the police. So I chose to [spend] the weekend outside Paris. On the way back home, there were lots of police in the main train stations. I found the neighbour putting out a candle [for the victims], so I did the same [thing]."

Mohamed Osman (24 year-old student, living  in Paris for the past 4 months)

"Well, other than the usual jokes from colleagues and friends, everything is normal. Even French people try to comfort us and say that it is not Islam. It seems to be a general trend following [French President Francois] Hollande's speeches."

Mohamed Tharwat Abdelhamid (23 year-old political sciences student living in Paris)

"[I have] not [felt a change] in my daily life, but in people's sights, minds, and power of judgment.  For example, I'm bearded, [I have] a friend who is known [to be] a Muslim but looks French and another veiled friend. We were frightened just to exit our homes
because we felt hatred.

"While I see some difference and discrimination ..., I also feel a lot of compassion from many friends who all comment on news saying 'please, don't use shortcuts just to justify your racism against Muslim/Arab people who have nothing to do with that.' The case of Charlie Hebdo divided [some] people but also unified others."