A 32-year-old Jewish woman in the Paris suburb of Gennevilliers was allegedly the victim of a horrific antisemitic crime this week. According to French media reports, the woman claims she was raped, kidnapped, and threatened with murder by a man seeking revenge against her for Palestinians.
The suspect, who has not been publicly named, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with religiously-motivated death threats and drug offenses. Prosecutors believe the kidnapping charge is warranted, though the rape allegation is still under investigation.
The victim told police she met the perpetrator on a dating app in 2023. She says he held her against her will in his apartment, where he assaulted and threatened her. The suspect allegedly sent disturbing texts to the woman's mother saying he would "prostitute" her daughter to "avenge Palestine."
The shocking case has drawn outrage across the political spectrum in France. Politicians from both the Left and Right condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community.
Marine Le Pen of the National Rally party blamed "far-left" inaction for allowing an environment of antisemitism to fester. The government's anti-racism delegation called the importation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to France unacceptable.
