Several hundred people demonstrated in the town of Hauts-de-Seine, in the Paris region, almost a week after the anti-Semitic attack on a 12-year-old girl.
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The anti-Semitic attack and rape of a 12-year-old girl in Courbevoie last weekend caused great turmoil in society. A new gathering was held on Friday June 21 in the morning in this town of Hauts-de-Seine, in the Paris region. The town hall square was crowded, with 200 to 300 people gathered under umbrellas to attend this republican ceremony, which began with the speech of the LR mayor of Courbevoie, Jacques Kossowski.
“Many of you responded to this solemn moment. This rape moved all of Courbevoie and well beyond our commune. Because to the horror of the gesture was added the infamy of the word: anti-Semitismdeclared the elected official. In your massive presence, I see the common desire to revolt with all our strength. In your presence, I also see a society which above all wishes to support a young girl and her family.”
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Children then read an extract from The life ahead by Romain Gary to pay tribute to this girl who was the victim of a rape perpetrated by teenagers, who called her a “dirty Jew”. Two 13-year-old boys were indicted and a third, aged 12, was placed under the status of assisted witness.
Faced with this aggression, the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (Crif) Yonathan Arfi asked to “sound the alarm”. “The explosion of anti-Semitic acts in our country since October 7, with quite impressive figures, must stop”did he declare. “We must look at this phenomenon with clarity if we want to combat it effectively,” added the president of Crif.
A representative of the Muslim community was also present on stage and in the crowd, alongside Israeli flags, many citizens came to show their support. Which delighted Claire, who presents herself as a Frenchwoman of Jewish faith. “I have a little hope this morning, well done! My big surprise, really, is to see that there are almost fewer Jews than French Christians or French Muslims. This is the first time that I I am relieved to see that they answered the call or that they came to show their solidarity with the Jewish community. My heart is a little warmer this morning.she rejoices.
After a quarter of an hour, the ceremony concluded with a Marseillaise echoed by the public. A new gathering is planned in Courbevoie, Sunday June 23, in front of the cultural center.