Rapper Médine's 'anti-Semitic' Tweet splits French Left
The prominent French rapper Médine has been at the centre of a row after a Tweet aimed at essayist Rachel Khan – a Franco-Gambian woman whose Jewish maternal grandparents died in the Holocaust – was criticised as 'anti-Semitic'. The rapper himself has apologised and insisted he had not targeted Rachel Khan's Jewish heritage in any way. He also says that he accepts he has made errors in the past and that he fights “all forms of anti-Semitism”. But the row has continued and invitations for Médine to address the summer conferences of both the radical left La France Insoumise and France's green party Europe Écologie-Les Verts have caused a rift on the Left. Some prominent politicians have said they will not attend the events because of the controversy. Mathieu Dejean reports.
TheThe annual summer conferences for parties of the French Left begin this week against the backdrop of a row over alleged anti-Semitism from a high-profile invitee. The French rapper Médine is due to be a guest at both the conference of French green party Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV) which starts on August 24th and at the annual gathering of the radical left La France Insoumise (LFI) which begins on August 26th. Both parties have been being accused of displaying complacency over the issue of anti-Semitism by inviting the rapper.
