A French court cancelled the expulsion of two Arabs from
Gymnasia Montaigne (high school) in Paris' Fifth Quarter for
mistreating a Jewish student for a prolonged period, and
fined the Education Ministry for their expulsion.
The antisemitic attacks caused a tumult of denunciations in
France, in December when they were revealed. The Prime
Minister himself condemned the antisemitic attack and
promised that the attackers would be severely punished. The
then- Education Minister visited, Gymnasia. But judges at the
Paris Administrative Court ruled the beatings were not of an
antisemitic nature.
The judges were not satisfied with acquitting the students,
but even fined the state 1,000 euro per student "for the
injustice done to them." The two Arab students verbally
abused, beat, threatened and blackmailed the Jewish student
for an extended period before this was discovered, yet the
judges overlooked their acts -- as if they are permitted by
French law if they are not antisemitic.
So far, almost all of the defendants caught red-handed in
France for perpetrating antisemitic acts of various kinds,
such as cemetery desecration or violent attacks, have been
acquitted. The judges state their arguments in highly
professional language, citing freedom of expression or saying
the punches were directed against the State of Israel and its
policies and not against Jews, or dismissing an incident as a
dispute between neighbors or because the attackers themselves
were the victims of discrimination. Every time they find a
new excuse.
But there remains no doubt that judges are refusing to
convict antisemitic assailants and inciters, perhaps because
it would be interpreted as an admission of the existence of
violent antisemitism in France or for political reasons.
In effect, they are defending the assailants and inciters.
Speaking on Jewish radio, author Claude Landsman recently
said the atmosphere in France is reminiscent of the 1930s.
But then the Jews expected this kind of antisemitic treatment
whereas today they are unprepared for it, thinking themselves
French citizens in every way and they are surprised anew
every time.
The French judges also surprised them with their bizarre
rulings. The parents of the Jewish student are astounded.
Instead of the attackers having to leave the school, their
son will have to leave.
Two weeks ago, a court acquitted an African entertainer
charged with antisemitic incitement during a television
appearance on one of the networks. According to the judges,
his appearance was not directed against the Jewish community
or Jews, but rather was criticism of Israel and Israeli
policy.
Daniel Siboni, a Jewish psychologist, said the judge himself
is tainted with antisemitism. Siboni said the French legal
establishment has been justifying antisemitic violence in
cases and their rulings sanction continued antisemitism in
schools and the media. The Paris Administrative Court totally
disregarded the antisemitic attacks in Montaigne, addressing
only the beatings which they claimed did not justify
expulsion.
"Rulings of this type testify to social and legal decay,"
said Siboni. "The judges are using values of equality and
freedom of expression to justify antisemitic violence and to
prevent dangerous, violent criminals who attack Jews in the
streets and in schools from receiving punishment."
