Paris, France – Two adolescent boys in a Paris suburb are facing preliminary charges for the rape of a 12-year-old girl, alongside accusations of religion-motivated violence, as reported by French authorities on Wednesday. Following a surge in antisemitic acts in France during the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Emmanuel Macron called for schools to engage in discussions regarding racism and antisemitism with students this week in response to the shocking incident.
The victim notified police in Courbevoie about the gang rape on Saturday, leading to the detention of three boys aged 12 and 13. Subsequently, two of the boys were charged with multiple offenses including aggravated gang rape of a minor under 15, violence, public insult motivated by religion, death threats, attempted extortion, and the illicit recording or sharing of sexual images. The boys remain in custody while the investigation continues, while the third boy has been identified as an assisting witness and placed in a special education program.
Although not officially disclosed by the prosecutor’s office, various media outlets and local officials have identified the victim as Jewish, labeling the incident as an antisemitic attack. Elie Korchia, a lawyer and Jewish leader, later confirmed the victim’s religion in an interview with a French broadcaster, mentioning references to the war in Gaza during the assault.
Protesters congregated outside Paris City Hall to denounce antisemitic violence and threats, displaying signs that conveyed messages such as “It could have been your sister” and “Our lives are worth more than the importation of the conflict.” Political leaders from different ideologies have condemned the attack, with France gearing up for snap parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month, where issues of security and immigration are expected to feature prominently.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin characterized the incident as “awful” and acknowledged the challenges faced by law enforcement in preventing such acts of violence, pointing to broader societal issues related to authority and parental responsibility. The incident has sparked national outrage and conversation about combating hate crimes, as Macron’s administration navigates a complex political landscape amid the ongoing election campaign.