In a strong statement against the recent act of vandalism, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his indignation over the destruction of the olive tree memorial dedicated to Ilan Halimi. This olive tree had stood for 14 years as a tribute to Halimi, who was savagely murdered by a gang in Paris in 2006, due to his Jewish identity.
Macron described the act of cutting down the tree, which occurred on Wednesday, as an "attempt to kill him a second time," asserting that all available resources will be mobilized to find and prosecute those responsible. He reaffirmed France's commitment to combating antisemitism, declaring that the nation "will not forget this child of France who died because he was Jewish."
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez confirmed that an investigation is underway, stating that efforts will be concentrated on finding the vandals. Halimi's 2006 murder had sent shockwaves across France, and the olive tree memorial was part of several dedicated locations honoring his memory in the capital.
Discovered by local authorities on Thursday morning, the severed tree was unceremoniously tossed into a flowerbed, sparking outrage. French Prime Minister François Bayrou echoed Macron's sentiments, attributing the act to "antisemitic hatred" and emphasizing that such crimes cannot erase historical memory.
Halimi was kidnapped by the Barbarians gang, who targeted him due to the belief that his family was wealthy. They held him captive for weeks and attempted to extort a ransom, ultimately leading to his tragic fate. While the gang leader received a life sentence, other perpetrators received varying lesser sentences.
Macron's condemnation followed a past incident in 2019 when another memorial tree for Halimi was also destroyed. The consistent targeting of Halimi's memorials underscores the persistent antisemitic challenges faced in France, prompting calls for vigilance against hatred.
Macron described the act of cutting down the tree, which occurred on Wednesday, as an "attempt to kill him a second time," asserting that all available resources will be mobilized to find and prosecute those responsible. He reaffirmed France's commitment to combating antisemitism, declaring that the nation "will not forget this child of France who died because he was Jewish."
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez confirmed that an investigation is underway, stating that efforts will be concentrated on finding the vandals. Halimi's 2006 murder had sent shockwaves across France, and the olive tree memorial was part of several dedicated locations honoring his memory in the capital.
Discovered by local authorities on Thursday morning, the severed tree was unceremoniously tossed into a flowerbed, sparking outrage. French Prime Minister François Bayrou echoed Macron's sentiments, attributing the act to "antisemitic hatred" and emphasizing that such crimes cannot erase historical memory.
Halimi was kidnapped by the Barbarians gang, who targeted him due to the belief that his family was wealthy. They held him captive for weeks and attempted to extort a ransom, ultimately leading to his tragic fate. While the gang leader received a life sentence, other perpetrators received varying lesser sentences.
Macron's condemnation followed a past incident in 2019 when another memorial tree for Halimi was also destroyed. The consistent targeting of Halimi's memorials underscores the persistent antisemitic challenges faced in France, prompting calls for vigilance against hatred.
