FranceLink

France promises to fight anti-Semitism after attack

Interior minister told rally held to protest against attack on Jewish couple that combating anti-Semetic acts would be a 'national cause'.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

To support Mediapart subscribe

France's interior minister has vowed to make the fight against anti-Semitism a "national cause" following an attack on a Jewish couple last week, reports the BBC.

Bernard Cazenueve was addressing a rally in the Paris suburb of Créteil where the attack took place.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the attack, in which a woman was raped and money stolen.

Officials say there has been a sharp increase in the number of anti-Semitism attacks in France in recent months.

Mr Cazeneuve told hundreds of assembled demonstrators that the government would defend France's Jewish community with "all its force".

"We must make the fight against racism and anti-Semitism a national cause," he said.

Roger Cukierman, the head of France's umbrella group for Jewish organisations, the CRIF, said that anti-Semitism was an increasing problem in France.

"Jews feel in danger. Some are already leaving France," he said at the rally.

Read more of this report from the BBC.