Rape of Jewish girl ignites antisemitism debate in French election campaign
FRANCE-The reported sexual assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in what is believed to be an antisemitic incident has shocked the entire country and elevated antisemitism fears in the run-up to the parliamentary elections. How is antisemitism shaping the French election campaign? After attempting to distance itself from antisemitic past, the anti-immigration National Rally party is leading in pre-election polls and might form a government for the first time if it wins the two-round elections that conclude on July 7. Since the Nazi occupation, it would
French Muslim school faces uncertain future amid funding cuts
FRANCE-Staff and students at Lille's Averroès high school are concerned about their future after it was revealed by French authorities that public funding will be discontinued due to management issues and instruction they believed to be incompatible with secular French principles. Is France turning its back on Muslim students? Sihame Denguir moved her teenage son and daughter from their middle-class suburban Parisian home 200 kilometers (125 miles) away to the largest Muslim private school in France last year, which is located in Lille, a northern city.
Unity over hate: Macron’s plea to French voters amid rising racism
FRANCE-After his party suffered a humiliating defeat in the European parliamentary election, French President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision to schedule early legislative elections, stating on Wednesday that voters will eventually favor the "progressive bloc" over the far-right. Will Macron's gamble pay off? Legislative elections determine the composition of the French parliament, not the president's occupant of the Elysee Palace. Macron declared he will not resign from office before the conclusion of his tenure, which runs until 2027. The solemn-looking leader of France claimed that calling
France’s Olympic glory tainted by fatal accident
FRANCE-On a late April Saturday, a few dozen people congregated on Pont d'Austerlitz, the bridge over the Seine River, under a gentle but persistent downpour, covering themselves with umbrellas, hoods, and scarves. What went wrong on the Olympic site? Some carried banners and slogans demanding "Justice for Amara." "Amara, a victim of serious employer onsite safety breaches," read another. The Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT), one of the biggest labor unions in France, organized a rally in honor of Amara Dioumassy, who was killed on June
Macron Announces Early Elections Following Far-Right Urge in EU Vote
FRANCE-Following a significant win for his opponent Marine Le Pen's National Rally in the European Parliament election, President Emmanuel Macron has announced the holding of early legislative elections later this month. Will Macron's gamble pay off? According to exit surveys, the far-right party is expected to receive 32% of the vote, which is more than twice as many as the president's Renaissance party. He declared that the two voting rounds would occur on June 30 and July 7, just a few weeks before the Paris Olympics,
Surge in support for French left among youth amid Gaza conflict ahead of EU elections
FRANCE-The left in France is mobilizing around the explosive divides surrounding the Gaza war as voters cast ballots for Sunday's 2nd June 2024 European election. Is the Gaza conflict shaping French youth politics? Leading firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon's France Unbowed (LFI) is the sole political party placing the utmost priority on the Gaza War. With about 8% of the vote, his party is now trailing the far-right National Rally, which has over 30% of the vote. The socialist group is at 14%, and the centrist President Emmanuel
Paris nightclubs accused of racially discriminatory pricing practices
PAIRS-White patrons at two well-known clubs can pay up to ten times less for admission, according to the French NGO SOS Racisme. Are Paris nightclubs practicing racial pricing? According to a recent discrimination test, two well-known Parisian nightclubs charge varying fees based on the skin color of its patrons. The French daily Mediapart first made this discovery. Mediapart journalists were present at two popular nightclubs in the affluent 16th arrondissement of the French capital, L'aQuarium, which is adjacent to the Trocadero, and L'Arc Paris, which is
Arab-origin citizen’s home in France vandalized with racist Graffiti
FRANCE-Racist graffiti, featuring Nazi swastikas, was left up on the construction site of a new mosque in Coulommiers, east of Paris, over the weekend. Who Is behind the racist Graffiti attack in France? A young Muslim man from North Africa rests on a wall covered in graffiti in Felix Pyat, the third and poorest neighborhood of Marseille. His shaved head and old leather jacket, together with his carelessly held cigarette, completely contradict his schooling as a biotechnology engineer who placed fifth in his class. Mohammed smirks
Racism in France: New Caledonia’s struggle for equality amid ongoing tensions
FRANCE-Following two weeks of upheaval that left seven people dead, French authorities in New Caledonia recovered complete control of the capital of their Pacific island, the French minister of interior and international affairs announced on Friday 31 May 2024. What led to the deadly unrest in New Caledonia? The remaining region of the capital of New Caledonia that remained under protester control was the Riviere-Salee district of Noumea. Gerald Darmanin claimed in a post on X Friday that “a major police operation has taken place successfully”
Boiling point: France’s critical crisis sparks calls to Boycott Paris Olympics 2024
FRANCE-France unveiled new laws in May 2023, purportedly to address security worries related to the Paris Olympics. Why are Calls for a Boycott growing amid France's crisis? In January 2023, French senators adopted laws enabling AI-powered video monitoring. The measure was approved by a large majority in March 2023 despite several objections and cries for its rejection. The law will enable real-time tracking of Olympic movements and events through experimental video surveillance. Cameras are now able to recognize suspicious activities, such stampedes or unattended bags, according
