The threat to the Jews in the French crisis

Lecture and debate with Danny Leder (Paris)

When: Thursday, September 3, 2015, 7 p.m.

Where: Hörsaal 2094, Main building of the Humboldt University of Berlin, Unter den Linden 6

Admission is free.

Registration is required: anmeldung(at)mideastfreedomforum(dot)org

Event in German language

France is home to both the most Jews (500,000) as well as the most Muslims in Europe (about five million). A majority of both religious groups come from former French colonies in North Africa. Members of both religious groups live in the same urban areas. This originally rather uncomplicated and often sympathetic coexistence evolved into a dangerous situation for the Jews in the last fifteen years.

For over a decade practicing Jews have been exposed to attacks in certain quarters. More than half of the attacks in France which were classified as "racist" were attacks against Jews, though Jews make up less than one percent of the population. In recent years the neighborhood bullies of the French Jews became djihadist terrorists.

The media in France, politicians, the national security authorities and the judiciary react quickly to anti-Jewish acts. However, the commitment in parts of the French cicil society to confront anti-Jewish acts has recently faltered, partly due to the painful realization that anti-Jewish violence is almost excusively carried out by young Muslims, living their lives in the suburban banlieus, shaped by crime and radical Islam.

Danny Leder, born in 1954, comes from Vienna and is working in Paris as a correspondent for the Austrian KURIER since 33 years. He also writes for other German-speaking media (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Hagalil etc.) He wrote extensively on the relationship between Jews and Muslims in France and their common history in the Maghreb.