In a shocking turn of events, a rally in Lyon, France, was held to condemn the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl. The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the rising antisemitism in the country, just in time for the upcoming French parliamentary elections.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the surge of antisemitism, labeling it as a “scourge” festering in French schools. The far-right leaders, on the other hand, blame the left for not taking anti-Semitism seriously enough.
The Nanterre prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into the alleged “aggravated rape” of the minor following reports from the victim herself. Three boys, aged 12 and 13, have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
The investigation is ongoing to determine if the girl was targeted because of her religion. The boys are being investigated for aggravated gang rape, group violence against a minor for religious reasons, death threats, and insult for religious reasons.
Antisemitic incidents in France have surged by 284% between 2022 and 2023, with acts against the Jewish community making up the majority of anti-religious incidents. The incident has sparked a fierce political debate on how to tackle the growing antisemitism problem in France.
Political figures have weighed in on the issue, with far-right leaders pledging to combat antisemitism if elected. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has labeled the incident as “despicable” and criticized his left-wing opponent for downplaying the severity of antisemitism.
Protests and demonstrations outside Paris’s city hall have shown the public’s outrage over the issue. With slogans like “Raped at 12 because she was Jewish” and “Anti-Semitism is not residual,” activists and protesters are demanding justice and attention to the antisemitism issue in France. The main Jewish interest group in France, CRIF, has called for a thorough investigation into the crime and its anti-Semitic nature to be confirmed.
