24-Year old Muslim supermarket employee,
Lassana Bathily, who saved several shoppers lives during the Paris attack has been granted French citizenship. He was praised for his 'courage and heroism' by Interior Minister,
Bernard Cazeneuve during a ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister,
Manuel Valls. Mr Cazeneuve said Mali-born Bathily's 'act of humanity has become a symbol of an Islam of peace and tolerance.'
'Tonight I'm very proud and deeply touched,' Mr Bathily, who went to school in Paris, said with tears in his eyes. He humbly stressed that he does not consider himself a hero, saying:
'I am Lassana. I'll stay true to myself. People are all equal to me and skin colour isn't a matter. France is the country of human rights,' he added.
Mr Bathily was in the store's underground stockroom when gunman
Amedy Coulibaly burst in to the Hyper Cacher supermarket in Porte de Vincennes, Paris, on January 9 and killed four people. The 24-year-old guided terrified customers to safety in a supermarket chiller and has since been praised around the world for his quick-thinking and bravery.
Creditd: AP / Getty Images / DailyMail
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