Hamida Djandoubi, a 28-year-old Tunisian immigrant, was convicted of the brutal murder of a former girlfriend, as well as acts of torture. His case drew significant media attention and raised serious questions about the ethics of capital punishment. Djandoubi's execution by guillotine took place on September 10, 1977, at Baumettes Prison in Marseille, becoming a significant marker in France's judicial history. At approximately 4:00 AM, the execution was conducted, and it was the last use of the guillotine for capital punishment in France. The guillotine, a symbol of the French Revolution, had been emblematic of the country's approach to punishment and justice. Following Djandoubi's execution, France moved towards abolishing the death penalty entirely, with the formal abolition occurring in 1981 under President François Mitterrand.

The execution itself was not without controversy. Public sentiment towards the death penalty was beginning to shift in the 1970s, with growing opposition by human rights advocates who argued against the inhumanity and finality of capital punishment. The case of Djandoubi highlighted these emerging views and sparked debates over justice, morality, and the state's role in administering death. Djandoubi's execution became a pivotal moment, as it was the last time France employed the guillotine, a practice entangled deeply in the nation’s history.