Hollande: It is intolerable that Jews hide their religion out of fear
French President Francois Hollande said it was intolerable that French Jews had to hide their religion out of fear.
Mr. Hollande made the remarks after an anti-Semitic attack in the French city of Marseille.
French Jews make up one percent of the country's population.
In the attack, a Jewish teacher was attacked with a knife by a boy who had pledged allegiance to the group known as the Islamic State (ISIS).
French Jews were also targeted in the attacks on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris last January.
Mr. Hollande said: “It is intolerable that in our country, citizens conclude that they must hide their religion because of their religion.”
Zvi Amer, president of the Jewish community of Marseille, known as the Bnei Israel Congregation, said that Jews need "exceptional measures" in these circumstances.
In an interview with a French newspaper, Mr. Amer called on Jews to refrain from wearing the kippah (traditional Jewish hat) in the street to prevent identification as Jews.
"It is sad that in 2016, in a democratic country like France, we find ourselves in this situation," he said.
On Monday, Benjamin Amslem, a 35-year-old teacher wearing a kippa, was attacked with a machete, sustaining injuries to his head and shoulder.
The teenage attacker was charged on Wednesday (January 13). He is a Kurd from Turkey and told police he was “ashamed” that he could not kill the teacher.
This is the third such attack on Jews in Marseille in recent months, and the 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 last year.
A Jewish group in France says that acts of violence against Jews in France have increased from 423 in 2013 to 851 in 2014. Cases of physical violence against Jews have also increased from 105 to 241.
