They attacked Jewish students and called them "dirty Zionists" - the court did not recognize an anti-Semitic motive
Three Jewish students were attacked on the campus of the University of Strasbourg in January 2024 while hanging posters for the hostages and erasing anti-Israel graffiti. More than two years later, only one of those involved was prosecuted and sentenced to four months of probation. The court did not recognize the attack as anti-Semitic, ruling that it was a "political confrontation."
Three Jewish students—Arthur and two twin sisters, Chaya and Sterna—were attacked on the night of January 28, 2024, on the campus of the University of Strasbourg. They were erasing graffiti reading "Israel murders," spraying "No to anti-Semitism" over it, and hanging posters for the release of the hostages. A pro-Palestinian activist, Malek M., summoned reinforcements via the Signal app, and four masked men arrived at the scene. Arthur was knocked down and beaten, and Chaya was struck on her legs and abdomen. During the attack, they were called "Zionist fascists" and "dirty Zionists." More than two years later, only Malek M. was prosecuted and convicted. Another defendant, Ines L., was acquitted for lack of evidence. The four masked men were not located. The court ruled on the charge of "assault in a group" and did not recognize an anti-Semitic motive, accepting the prosecution's position that it was a "political confrontation." The decision drew sharp criticism from the Union of Jewish Students in France (UEJF), which asked: "What more is needed to call this anti-Semitism?" CRIF and the European Jewish Organization also sought recognition of the anti-Semitic motive, but their request to join as civil parties was rejected. The then-university president, Prof. Michel Deneken, called the incident an "anti-Semitic attack" and condemned it harshly.