In a harrowing incident that has shocked France, a 12-year-old Jewish girl, Axelle*, was kidnapped and raped in Courbevoie, a suburb of Paris, on anti-Semitic grounds. The attack, which took place on June 15, 2023, involved three minors aged 12 and 13, who have since been indicted. The case has highlighted the deep-seated issues of anti-Semitism and violence in the country.
Axelle met Lorenzo*, also 12, during an inter-college sports event in May. A relationship quickly blossomed between them, with Axelle initially hiding her Jewish faith by claiming to be Muslim to protect herself from potential aggression. This precaution was taken after the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to increased harassment at her school due to her religion.
The relationship took a dark turn when Lorenzo discovered Axelle's true religion. On the day of the attack, Lorenzo and two friends lured Axelle to an abandoned hangar near her home. There, they subjected her to anti-Semitic slurs, beatings, and ultimately, a brutal rape. Before letting her go, they forced her to swear by Allah not to tell anyone and even pressured her to convert to Islam.
Axelle's parents, speaking to the French website Le Parisien, described their daughter's trauma. 'She is very shocked; they ruined her childhood. She is afraid to speak and wakes up at night with flashbacks,' they said. The family recounted the persistent anti-Semitic bullying Axelle faced at school, which included Nazi statements and swastikas, leading them to advise her to hide her Jewish identity.
The incident has reignited fears among French Jews about the rising tide of anti-Semitism from various quarters, including the extreme right, left, and immigrant communities with Middle Eastern or North African backgrounds. Rabbi Chaim Kursia, Chief Rabbi of France, stated, 'Every case of rape is abominable, but a case of rape as shocking as this, just because the girl was Jewish, reminds us of the times when the Jewish people were persecuted simply for their religion.'
Axelle's father emphasized the need for justice, viewing the attack as a collective social failure in combating anti-Semitism and extreme violence. 'We want justice to be done. The fact that such an incident happened is a sign of a collective social failure in the fight against anti-Semitism and extreme violence,' he said. The family hopes for a harsh response from the French justice system to ensure such heinous acts are not repeated.
- The case has not only shocked the Jewish community in France but has also drawn widespread condemnation from various sectors of society. Many have called for stronger measures to combat anti-Semitism and protect vulnerable communities.
- The French government is under increasing pressure to address the root causes of such hate crimes and to implement more effective policies to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
- Public demonstrations have been held in solidarity with Axelle and her family, with participants demanding justice and a stronger stance against anti-Semitism. These protests are a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against hatred and intolerance in modern society.
