Jewish girl raped by child molesters in Paris suburb and insulted as a “dirty Jew”

A 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped by child molesters who shouted anti-Semitic insults at her. The case shocked France.

The attack has brought the issue of anti-Semitism to the forefront of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Parties from across the political spectrum are condemning the attack and pointing fingers at each other.

Two 13-year-old boys were charged with gang rape, death threats, insults and personal violence, while a 12-year-old was given assisted witness status for rape.

The attack occurred on Saturday in the suburb of Courbevoie, northwest of Paris, as the victim was walking home after breaking up with a male friend.

It is alleged that two youths approached her and forcibly dragged her into a warehouse. A third suspect, 12, joined them, shouting anti-Semitic slurs at her and calling her a “dirty Jew” while the other boys beat, threatened, raped and forced her to perform oral sex.

The attackers are said to have held a lighter to her cheek, threatened to kill her if she went to the police, and asked her to return to the same place the next day with 200 euros.

“Otherwise something bad could happen to her and her family because they know where she lives,” they said, according to police reports seen by Le Parisien.

Left-wing extremist politician sentenced

The news sparked immediate condemnation from all political parties, but also became an election issue.

Emmanuel Macron’s party has attacked the New Popular Front (NFP) – the recently formed left-wing coalition – and Jean-Luc Mélenchon in particular for stoking anti-Semitism in France.

Mr Mélenchon, the leader of the far-left France Insoumise (Indomitable France), the largest party in the coalition, refuses to label Hamas a terrorist organisation and is a polarising figure within the NFP because of his stance.

Responding to Mélenchon’s tweet expressing support for the victim’s family and expressing “horror” at the attack, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said: “How dare you? You have no face. Leave this young girl and her family alone.”

“Your recurring comments fuel hatred that leads to the worst… Shame on those who make pacts with you to save their own pockets.”

At a gathering in front of Paris City Hall on Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators shouted: “Mélenchon in prison.”

At another demonstration in Courbevoie, Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), said: “We must fight against this climate of anti-Semitism fuelled by France Insoumise.”

“We must do everything we can to fight both extremes, without compromise.”

According to government figures, anti-Semitic acts in France increased by 300 percent between January and March compared to the same period last year.