Philippe Attic

Philippe Grenier (August 14th 1865 - March 25th 1944) is a Médecin, politician French and first Moslem deputy of the French history.

Born with Pontarlier (Doubs), he is the son of Hippolyte Grenier, captain of cavalry, member of the State major of Napoleon III having been used in the hunters of Africa with Mostaganem (Algeria), and as Marie Thiébaud, girl of Charles Thiébaud, notary of Pontarlier. His/her father will die the June 4th 1871 whereas his/her Philippe son is only six years old.

Carrying out its secondary studies with Besancon, it obtains its baccalaureat and attends the medical college of Paris of 1883 with 1890 before settling in Pontarlier where it opens a cabinet. This year, it returns visit to his younger brother to Blida to Algeria what will be the beginning of its revelation for the Moslem culture of the colonial Empire French.

Shocked by the way in which France maintains the Moslem Algerians in misery and of the social injustices of the colonial time, of return in Metropolis, it starts to study the Coran.

Four years later, in 1894, when it accomplishes a second voyage in Algérie, it goes to Blida where it converts with Islam.

Following its conversion, it goes to Mecque at 29 years and adopts the traditional behavior of the Algerian Moslems. It is made elect city council man of its city and is interested in the questions of public health and assistance to needy thanks to its statute of doctor.

It is following the death of the former deputy of Pontarlier (Doubs) that Dr. Grenier decides to try his chance. Carrying out a modest electoral campaign, it became rized of the press which makes fun of its " exubérances vestimentaires". In spite of that, and thanks to a convincing speech, its ambitious social program for the time will enable him to take down sesame for the Parliament with the second round with 51% of the voices and after an electoral dramatic turn of events, on December 20th 1896.

This day, he becomes the first Moslem deputy of the French history.

First Appointed of Islamic confession at the French Parliament elected of the Doubs of 1896 with 1898, it becomes the curiosity of the press of the time, very badly well informed on the customs and Moslem habits.

Sometimes the press will show it to have a Harem, sometimes of kissing the carpet of the entry of the National Assembly or washing the feet continuously.

Becoming the " deputy of the Moslems of France" , it often goes in Algérie for the need for parliamentary inquiries. It is following its ethical standpoint and its combat for the French respectability of Islam, that the voters of Pontarlier will show it to forget from where it came and who it represented at the assembly.

This standpoint on the Absinthe claims the prohibition of the beverage will finish by the évincer, by knowing that Pontarlier was regarded as the capital of the Wormwood. It is in May 1898 which it will be beaten with the election and again in 1902.

After this double failure, it will decide to leave the policy.

It dies out with Pontarlier at the 79 years age, on March 25th 1944. A few months later, like a blow dealt by fate, it will be a unit of Algerian riflemen which will release Pontarlier of the German armed .

Since the end of his mandate in 1898, no Moslem metropolitan French, was elected at the French Parliament.

A college and a street of Pontarlier bear its name.

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