Ali Akbar is a Pakistani who became a symbol of Paris, salam aleikum.
In the mid-20th century, newspaper vendors were a common sight on the streets of European cities. Now, with almost everyone getting their news online, this trade has nearly disappeared. Ali Akbar is the last one still doing it in Paris, and many locals know him.
Every day, with a stack of newspapers in hand, he walks the streets of the capital, offering the press to café visitors. Everyone around knows him, and he knows the residents. “The walls here even recognize him,” says Amiina Kissi, a waitress at the Saint-Germain market. She’s known Ali Akbar for about 20 years now. The 73-year-old newspaper seller has become a city legend. “Even tourists ask where he is and why they don’t see him,” adds Amiina.
President Macron promised to award Ali Akbar in recognition of his long service to France.
“At first, I didn’t believe it. Maybe friends asked, or he decided on his own,” Ali recalls about their meeting. “I think it’s for my hard work-I work a lot,” he says. He looks like a typical street vendor-in a cap and round glasses. He mostly sells the newspaper Le Monde.
Ali Akbar came to France from Pakistan at 20, looking to escape poverty and help his family. He worked as a sailor and washed dishes. One day, he met comedian Georges Bernier and started selling the satirical publication Hara-Kiri-that’s how his street vendor career began.
The youngest of five kids, 30-year-old Shahab is proud of his father. It makes him happy to see mentions of him in the press and among people.
Ali started selling newspapers in the 1970s on the left bank of the Seine, in a student area where you could eat cheap. By chatting with students, he learned French. Among those students were people who later became politicians.
There used to be about 40 newspaper vendors in Paris, many working at subway stations and busy spots. Now Ali Akbar is the only one left. Sales have dropped: he used to sell 150–200 newspapers a day, now it’s no more than 30. But he’s not planning to leave. “As long as I have the strength, I will keep going. I’ll work until Allah gives me life,” he says with a smile.
Café visitor Amel Gali called him inspiring: “It's nice to see him in this digital age. It’s a pity our kids rarely take pleasure in reading a newspaper over a cup of coffee.”
Mashallah, it’s the story of a simple man who didn’t give up and became a part of urban life-a reminder of hard work and resilience.
https://islamnews.ru/2025/10/3