A man in France was accused of holding a Jewish woman against her will and threatening her on religious grounds to "avenge Palestine." The incident occurred on Sunday, April 21, in the city of Hauts-de-Seine, a suburb of Gennevilliers, where a communist mayor was elected years ago.
According to the investigation by local authorities, the charges brought against the 32-year-old suspect are "narcotic drug use and written death threats based on religion." He will be tried on June 21 before the 16th Correctional Chamber.
The victim had recently met the suspect and agreed to an invitation to go to his apartment, located on Avenue Chenard-et-Walker, in the Republic neighborhood. Once inside, the man refused to let the woman leave, stole her phone and sent a series of chilling messages to her mother and ex-boyfriend.
"Good luck, you will never find your daughter, you will never see her again, I am going to prostitute your daughter," read one of the texts, added that his intention was to "avenge Palestine."
However, the woman managed to recover her phone and called her mother for help. Authorities got to work, but at first, it was difficult for them to find her location, so they called in specialists from the Investigation and Intervention Brigade (BRI), who were able to identify the apartment.
They then broke in to rescue the victim from what could have ended in tragedy.
'Hatred of Israel kills in France'
The case quickly escalated and made national headlines, generating reactions from political leaders such as former presidential candidate and current Deputy Marine Le Pen.
"Far-left politicians, who for six months have multiplied inflammatory statements and speeches of unacceptable violence, bear a great responsibility in this climate of antisemitic hatred. I offer all my support to the victim and to our Jewish compatriots," Le Pen expressed.
She was joined by her colleague Meyer Habib, who was grateful that the case did not end in tragedy. “Thank God she managed to escape! As in Toulouse, as for Sarah Halimi and hyperkosher, hatred of Israel kills in France. It is the fuel of antisemitism, hatred of Israel is the blade of the Islamist dagger,” he wrote on social media.
