Paris' religious groups move forward after attacks

Every Saturday, Serge makes the trip to the Marche de Barbès in northern Paris near the district of Montmartre, because it's cheaper and because he likes the throng of different nationalities. As an older man, wearing a scarf and a blue jacket, he isn't exactly a typical resident, but people from all walks of life can be found here: immigrants and long-time residents, young black men dressed like rappers, old women wearing dark headscarves and long coats, young mothers pushing strollers and market traders hawking their goods.

"I don't think the mood will change in the neighborhood," says Serge. "At least, I hope not. There are actually no problems between people here."

Matilde has come to the market with her young son. She also lives in the neighborhood, though she isn't quite so optimistic about the future. "The tensions between the religious communities are clear, and that's dangerous," she says. "Maybe now, people can learn from what has happened and come to respect each other."

In another corner of the market is Fatima Mazid, whose face reflects the traces of a long life. "People just don't have the right to do something like that," she says, referring to the terrorists who killed 17 people in Paris in separate attacks this week. "They are not Muslims, they're villains." But even she shows some compassion for the attackers, whose bodies now lie with their victims at the mortuary after Friday's bloody finale. "They were unhappy young people, but they had no right to kill."

Is solidarity enough?

Francoise lives three metro stops away from the market, and comes on the weekends for the deals. She doesn't think that the attacks will have a negative effect on the social climate in the mixed neighborhoods of Paris. And she says the same is true for France as a whole.

However, she stresses that Muslims must now be clear about where they stand. That, they have done. All of France's official representatives of Islam, including the rector at Paris' Grand Mosque, have distanced themselves from the bloody deeds, in every possible way. But will that be enough? Francoise acknowledges that a certain uneasiness remains, with some people fearing further attacks .

"We will not begin to distrust our neighbors, but we will be vigilant," said the owner of the colorful shop packed with party clothes from the Middle East, Au Bonnes Affaires du Caftan. "I haven't noticed any panic among the people here. And there's no reason for it. In France, people think differently than in other countries. Freedom of expression is particularly important, and we are ready to defend it."

On the street corner, a group of young men sees things differently. "We don't agree with the crimes, but we're not Charlie," says one, referring to the ubiquitous posters featuring the slogan "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie"), created to show solidarity with the murdered staff of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Life will go on

Twenty minutes by car from the market, and it's a different world. In Passy, an expensive residential area in the 16th arrondissement, "Je suis Charlie" is everywhere, plastered in the windows of the chic boutiques and expensive hairdressers. The kiosk at Place Costa Rica has been selling twice as many newspapers as usual.

"All this has been horrible," says the owner, an elderly Parisian wearing a scarf and checkered cap. He has a bad leg, but otherwise he says he would join Sunday's big march for peace. "People are scared and horrified," he said. But it will pass - "life goes on."

In the cafe opposite, Jean Philippe and his wife say they believe the events will benefit President Francois Hollande. According to the couple, the president has so far done everything right, calming the country and appealing for unity. And Jean Philippe, a pensioner, is actually against Hollande and the Socialists. The most important thing now, he says, is to bolster the intelligence services and other security forces.

"There were things that went wrong. They even had those guys under observation," he says. "They were convicted criminals. But they [authorities] need more people to be able to effectively monitor such types."

On the other hand, he sees no solution for the problems in Paris' rundown suburbs. "The young men are out of work, the police don't dare go there and prison conditions are scandalous," he says.

Concern in the Jewish community

Barbara Bessermann, a young Jewish lawyer, arrives at the cafe with a group of family and friends. "We're quite privileged here," she acknowledges, pointing to her little group. But she says that tensions exist in France, along with major problems in the suburbs, which has led to radicalization.

She says that she isn't the only one in her faith community that no longer feels quite comfortable in France. "But where would I go? Not Israel. And Germany - my Polish grandfather would never understand."

After a week of the bloodiest and most dramatic events that Paris has seen in decades, many are now reconsidering their place in French society, how safe they feel after what has happened, how they view the state and its values.

It's been a long time since so many people have shown such passionate solidarity for the Republic and its democratic ideals. No-one in this city appears to be intimidated by the attacks. And if all those who have announced their plans to join Sunday's giant rally for unity actually turn up, it could become quite the show of support for France, and for Paris' many communities.