Actor Gerard Depardieu
Photo: AFP
French performers, politicians decry ‘new anti-Semitism’
Actor Gerard Depardieu, singer Charles Aznavour and former President Nicolas Sarkozy among some 300 well-known French people who signed a manifesto urging prominent Muslims to denounce anti-Jewish and anti-Christian references in the Quran as outdated.
Actor Gerard Depardieu, singer Charles Aznavour and former President Nicolas Sarkozy are among some 300 well-known French people urging national action to counter a “new anti-Semitism”
that they blame on rising Islamic radicalism.
They signed a manifesto published Sunday in Le Parisien newspaper, joining politicians from the right and left, as well as Jewish, Muslim and Catholic leaders.
Singer Charles Aznavour
The statement urges prominent Muslims to denounce anti-Jewish and anti-Christian references in the Quran as outdated so “no believer can refer to a holy text to commit a crime.” It also calls for combating anti-Semitism “before it’s too late.”
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (Photo: AFP)
Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said on France-Inter radio that the government must be vigilant against anti-Semitism and called for social unity.
Several French Jews have been killed by Islamic radicals in recent years.
