Leftwing politicians have branded the fundraiser as shameful while the far right has defended a police force it says is a daily target for violence in the low-income suburbs that ring French cities. It is a debate that reflects the deep fractures running through French society. "This police officer is the victim of a national witch-hunt and it is a disgrace," Messiha tweeted soon after launching the campaign. "You are perpetuating an already yawning rift by supporting a police officer under investigation for voluntary homicide. ($1 = 0.9173 euros)Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; Writing by Richard Lough, editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Macron, Nahel, Jean Messiha, Eric Zemmour's, Messiha, Olivier Faure, GoFundMe, Eric Dupond, Moretti, Emmanuel Macron, Elizabeth Pineau, Richard Lough, Emelia Sithole Organizations: U.S, Socialist Party, France Inter, Police, Thomson Locations: PARIS, France, French, Algerian, United States, Britain