Man wearing 'anti-Jewish' jersey on Paris Metro sentenced to six months on probation
The 28-year-old, named by French media as Mehmed D., of Turkish-Kurdish origins, was also condemned to pay a €2,000 fine.
A Parisian court sentenced a man to a six-month prison term, on probation, for wearing a Manchester City jersey with the inscription "anti-Jewish" in a Paris metro in October, French media reported on Thursday.
The 28-year-old, named by French media as Mehmed D., of Turkish-Kurdish origins, was also sentenced to pay a €2,000 fine.
He was found guilty of inciting racial hate, with the president of the court reportedly noting, "The offense is established. You were aware of the words you wrote on the jersey and their negative nature."
According to the reports, he told investigators he was angry because of the situation in the Middle East.
During his trial, he cited health issues as the reason for his behavior, which were reportedly negated by psychiatric evaluations requested by the prosecution.
He also affirmed that he wanted to inscribe "anti-IDF" on the jersey but was unable to do so because of a lack of space.
Paris: un homme écope de six mois de prison avec sursis pour avoir porté un maillot "anti juif" dans le métrohttps://t.co/0wIlEbOlFB pic.twitter.com/Ch7XAHxZCr
— BFM Paris Île-de-France (@BFMParis) December 12, 2024
"That may have offended Jews, I think. I regret my action," Mehmed D. was cited as saying.
"When one wears the word 'anti-Jewish' on their back in a train car, they should remember 1942 and the deportation of Jews from France," The lawyer for Mouvement international contre le racisme et l’antisémitisme (MICRA), reportedly said.
Rise in antisemitic incidents
In late July, the French Jewish Community Protection Service (SPCJ) reported that France in 2023 saw a 1000% rise in antisemitic incidents compared to the previous year.
In early December, it was reported that France saw a surge of 300% in antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2024.
Some 1,673 antisemitic attacks were recorded in France in 2023, and some 887 in the first half of 2024.
According to the French Interior Ministry, 57% of anti-religious or racist attacks in the country were antisemitic incidents.
Michael Starr contributed to this report.
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