In France, animosity towards the Jewish community is progressively manifesting as a motive for criminal activities. The recent assault on a 12-year-old girl in Courbevoie has deeply perturbed the nation. The individuals accused of this heinous act are aged between 12 and 13.
The question arises as to how these young minds have become so entrenched in religious hatred, transforming them into monsters perpetrating a heinous crime. Law enforcement authorities have classified this incident as a ‘hate crime’. Regrettably, the sole fault of the young girl was being born into a Jewish household. This distressing event transpired on 15 June while the victim was seated in a park and approached by three boys, two aged 13 and one aged 12.
The victim was acquainted with one of the assailants, who took her to a desolate location forcibly. Subsequently, the boys subjected the victim to verbal abuse targeting Jews before committing the abhorrent act of rape. The authorities have apprehended all three boys. Legal action has been initiated against two of the perpetrators for gang rape, making anti-Semitic remarks, engaging in violence, and issuing threats of harm.
According to reports, one of the boys threatened the girl with dire consequences if she dared to involve the police. Many individuals assembled on the streets on 19 June to denounce this atrocious incident.
Among the protesters, many displayed banners bearing slogans such as ‘She was raped because she was Jewish’ and ‘She could have been your sister too.’ President Emmanuel Macron of France has warned of the escalating threat of anti-Semitism within the educational system.
Macron has directed the Education Minister to incorporate discussions on racism and religious animosity in the school curriculum over the forthcoming days, emphasizing the critical need to avert the proliferation of ‘hateful rhetoric’ within educational institutions, which could have severe repercussions. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has denounced the assault as ‘horrifying’, attributing the challenge of curtailing such violence to limitations faced by law enforcement.
In a televised statement, Darmanin underscored, “This issue pertains to parental responsibility, governmental authorities, and societal concerns at large.” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has condemned the incident as ‘utterly abhorrent, intolerable, and unimaginable’. Expressing concern over the surge in anti-Semitic offences since October 7, Attal highlighted the distressing pattern of crimes targeting the Jewish populace in France.
The prevailing environment in France has markedly deteriorated following the conflict initiated by Hamas against Israel on 7 October, subsequently triggering retaliatory measures in Gaza. The Council of Jewish Organizations in France (CRIF) reported a staggering 284% surge in anti-Semitic incidents between 2022 and 2023, with around 13% of these occurrences transpiring within educational institutions.
France is currently immersed in fervent campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 30 June and 7 July, following President Macron’s unexpected announcement of the electoral process two weeks ago. The prominent right-wing National Rally party has endeavoured to elevate security and immigration as pivotal topics in the electoral discourse.
