French authorities have stepped in to prevent a baby being named after a terrorist

A baby was almost given the same name as a jihadist who killed seven people, before French authorities stepped in.

Mohamed Merah killed three Jewish children, three soldiers and a rabbi in and around the French city of Toulouse in March 2012. He was eventually killed by police, 12 days after his rampage began.

And now, two parents in France, who have not been named, have made the news for wanting to give their baby the same name. A prosecutor said the name could harm the child as he grows up, and that he would be subject to prejudice.

The city of Nice called the parents' actions "unacceptable" in a statement, and an investigation is being launched to determine their motives, according to The Local.

Under French law, parents are free to name their baby anything, but in cases where the French state thinks a name is not in the best interests of the child, it can intervene.

This isn’t the first time a baby has had such a narrow escape. French authorities intervened last year to stop a child from being named Nutella.

And earlier this year, a mother from Wales was banned from naming her baby Cyanide, after the poison Hitler took before shooting himself.

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