Fight for justice: Alfred Dreyfus exhibit in Paris

Museum of Judaism in Paris will present about 230 works, documents in exhibition entitled 'Alfred Dreyfus: A fight for justice'

Reuters | Published: 06.15.06, 18:43

PARIS - As part of the centenary celebrations of the rehabilitation of Alfred Dreyfus, a French military officer unjustly accused of treason, the Museum of Judaism in Paris has organized an new exhibition entitled “Alfred Dreyfus: A fight for justice.”

On 12 July 1906, after 12 years of bitter struggle, Officer Dreyfus was exonerated by France’s highest court of justice.

Arrested in 1894, he was stripped of his rank a year later and sentenced to life imprisonment. Deported to French Guyana, he still had the support of his family and only a few intellectuals such as Émile Zola and Jean Jaurès.

In 1896, the “Éclair” and “Matin” newspapers draw people’s attention to the suspicious nature of the proofs that lead to the sentencing of the Jewish officer. Bernard Lazare, a critic, published a brochure in support of Dreyfus.

Dreyfus himself kept fighting for the truth and for a review of the judgment. Both abroad and in France leading personalities rallied in support of the accused officer.

Émile Zola wrote an open letter to the French president, which was published in “l’Aurore” newspaper under the title “J’accuse” in which he denounced the justice system.

Zola was sentenced for slander but the Dreyfus affair became a public affair. Exonerated by French president Émile Loubet, Alfred Dreyfus did all he could to obtain an official exoneration.

Films and documentaries

To commemorate this, the museum presents about 230 works and documents including letters, pictures, postcards, manuscripts and posters.

Besides the exhibition, the Paris museum is organizing various events including lectures, guided tours, readings of the correspondence between Alfred and Lucie Dreyfus, and films and documentaries.

Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme, 71 rue du Temple, 75003 Paris, tel: 00 33 1 53 01 86 60. Mon to Fri 11 AM–6 PM , Sun 10 AM–6 PM. Closed Saturday.