Hollande: It is Intolerable that Jews Hide Their Religion Out of Fear
François Hollande, the President of France, said it is intolerable that Jews in France should have to hide their religion out of fear.
Mr. Hollande made these remarks following an anti-Semitic attack in the city of Marseille, France.
Jews make up one percent of France’s population.
In this attack, a Jewish teacher was stabbed by a youth who had pledged allegiance to a group known as the Islamic State (ISIS).
French Jews were also targeted in January of last year in attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.
Mr. Hollande said: “It is intolerable that in our country, our citizens should come to the conclusion that they must hide their religion because of their faith.”
Zoé Ammar, head of the Marseille Jewish association known as the Bene Israel Community, said Jews need “exceptional measures” in these circumstances.
Mr. Ammar told a French newspaper that Jews should refrain from wearing a Kippah (traditional Jewish skull cap) in the street to avoid being identified as Jewish.
He said “the fact that in 2016 in a democratic country like France we find ourselves in such a situation is sad.”
On Monday, Benjamin Amsellem, a 35-year-old teacher wearing a Kippah, was attacked with a knife and sustained injuries to his head and shoulder.
The young attacker was charged on Wednesday (January 13). He is a Kurd from Turkey and told police he is “ashamed” that he failed to kill the teacher.
This is the third such attack on Jews in the city of Marseille in recent months, and this city is home to the largest Jewish population in Europe after Paris and London.
Statistics show that anti-Semitic acts in France have doubled compared to the previous year.
A Jewish organization in France says that incidents against French Jews increased from 423 cases in 2013 to 851 cases in 2014. Cases of physical violence against Jews also increased from 105 incidents to 241 incidents.
