Surge in Racist and Anti-Semitic Acts in French Schools Amid Conflict
The 2023-2024 school year has seen a staggering rise in reported incidents of racism and anti-Semitism in French educational institutions, with over 3,600 acts documented, nearly tripling from the previous year. According to the Ministry of National Education, 1,670 of these incidents were anti-Semitic, while 1,960 were classified as racist. This sharp increase follows the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
The figures reveal a concerning trend, as the number of anti-Semitic acts surged by over 400% compared to the 400 incidents reported during the 2022-2023 school year. Similarly, racist acts rose from 870 to 1,960 in the same timeframe. The Ministry has acknowledged that the conflict's impact on societal tensions has likely contributed to this alarming spike in hate-fueled incidents within schools.
In response to these figures, the new Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, has emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and accurate reporting of hate acts. She has called for appropriate sanctions and increased awareness and prevention efforts in schools. The ministry has also noted that a significant portion of the reported incidents involved verbal insults, highlighting the urgent need for educational interventions.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France), has expressed deep concern over the rising anti-Semitism, labeling it as an indicator of broader societal crises. The feeling of isolation among Jewish communities in France has intensified, prompting calls for more robust measures to combat hate speech and violence in schools.
