The man, who requested to be publicly known only as Didi, ventured twice into the Bataclan music venue where he worked as a security guard just as the gunmen were systematically murdering people inside, and helped escort dozens of terrified concert-goers to safety.
The petition for the 'forgotten hero' was launched by Thiaba Bruni, a spokeswoman for France's Representative Council of Black Associations.
Didi himself, however, was somewhat surprised by the warm show of public recognition.
"I’d like to point out that the petition regarding my naturalization was originally a petition about awarding me a Legion of Honor medal – the 'citizenship' part was included later. And at first I was unaware about the petition itself – it was launched by some public organization I knew nothing about," Didi told Sputnik.
"I was quite surprised by this development because I didn’t ask for anything like that. Also, naturalization isn’t some kind of urgent issue for me as I have official papers," he added.
The brave security guard confirmed that he met some of the people who he rescued on that fateful night who told him that they had signed the petition.
"I must say that ordinary policemen and security guards simply don’t have the firepower needed to deal with armed terrorists," Didi said. "They need the help of the military and special forces."
Didi also remarked that the recent proposal by France’s authorities to strip French nationals convicted of terrorism of their citizenship would hardly be an effective measure against the people who are already willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause. However, it may become an effective punishment if used as a preemptive measure against people connected to terrorist networks, he pointed out.
"These people aren’t worthy of being citizens of France because they don’t accept the republic’s values," Didi said.
On November 13, 2015 gunmen and suicide bombers launched a series of attacks at the Stade de France, the Bataclan music venue, as well as several cafes and restaurants throughout the city, killing 130 and injuring dozens. It became the deadliest attack on French soil since the Second World War.
