France / 06-07-2012
France: we will combat any manifestation of antisemitism
The French Minister of the Interior, Manuel Valls, issued today (Friday) a sharp condemnation of the anti-Semitic assault incident that took placed this week in the train line connecting Toulouse and Lyon, in which a Jewish both who is studying in the “Otzar HaTorah” school in Toulouse was injured.
“These acts, which are characterized by extreme violence, are unacceptable. According to the French laws their perpetrators are subject to severe punishment.” was announced in the statement of the Interior Minister, who emphasized that the French authorities “are taking all possible measures in order to fight against any manifestation of the fanatical antisemitic malice. This act is an affront to the French values and its history.”
The Jewish school student was attacked yesterday on the train on his way to Lyon. Two youngsters of North African origin insulted him and beat him. A railway employee and a passenger intervened and deterred the two attackers. The two were arrested. The Jewish community in France condemned the attack. A teacher and three students in the “Otzar HaTorah” school were shot dead by Muhammad Merah about four months ago.
