The harrowing gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in Courbevoie, a Parisian suburb, has ignited widespread outrage and calls for action against escalating anti-Semitic violence in France. In a disturbing incident that has shocked the nation, a 12-year-old Jewish girl was subjected to a brutal gang rape by three boys, aged 12 and 13, on Saturday evening. The assault occurred in a park near her home, where the perpetrators reportedly accosted her with violent threats and anti-Semitic slurs.
In response to the incident, President Emmanuel Macron has called for a national dialogue on combating racism and hatred of Jews in schools, emphasizing the need to prevent the infiltration of hate speech into classrooms, which he warns could have serious consequences.
The attack has ignited political tensions, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticizing the “extreme left” for allegedly stigmatizing Jewish people since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the hard-left France Unbowed party, condemned what he termed as “anti-Semitic racism.”
Elie Korchia, head of France’s Jewish Central Consistory, denounced the assault as “sordid and unworthy,” while Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia expressed horror, emphasizing that no one should be excused amidst a rising tide of anti-Semitism.
Local leaders have also condemned the crime, with Courbevoie’s center-right mayor, Jacques Kossowski, denouncing it as an “abject act” and demanding that the perpetrators face the full force of the law regardless of their age.
Official figures reveal a troubling increase in anti-Semitic acts, with incidents tripling in the first months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Of the 1,676 anti-Semitic acts recorded in 2023, 12.7 percent occurred in school settings, underscoring concerns over the safety and security of Jewish students amidst rising hostility.
The assault on the 12-year-old girl has galvanized public outrage and renewed calls for comprehensive measures to combat anti-Semitic violence in France, prompting a national reckoning on how best to protect vulnerable communities from hate-fueled attacks.
This report aims to capture the gravity of the situation, highlight key responses from leaders and stakeholders, and provide context regarding the broader societal impact of rising anti-Semitic violence in France.
Sources revealed that the young girl was forcibly taken into a nearby shed, where she was sexually assaulted while enduring verbal abuse targeting her Jewish identity. The assailants further exacerbated the trauma by filming the attack and warning the victim against reporting the crime.
Two of the suspects, both 13 years old, have been formally charged with gang rape, making threats of violence, and committing hate speech directed at the Jewish community. They have been detained pending further legal proceedings. The third suspect, a 12-year-old, faces charges related to hate speech and violence but not rape, and has been allowed to return home.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum in France. President Emmanuel Macron addressed the issue during a recent cabinet meeting, expressing grave concern over the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism in schools and urging immediate action to combat racism and hatred targeting Jewish communities.
