Zero-tolerance against racism

ISLAMOPHOBIA and anti-Semitism will be punished with the same severity, President Sarkozy has assured.

“The indivisibility of the Republic is a fundamental rule. There will be zero tolerance – those who want to import ethnic tensions will find the State in their path,” said the president who was addressing a meeting of security personnel.

“Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia will be punished with the same severity,” he said, adding that there was no place for such behaviour in France.

He condemned the perpetrators of recent violent racist acts for using events in Gaza as a pretext.

France is home to both the largest Jewish and Muslim minority groups in Europe.

This week two synagogues in Mulhouse and Lille had anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas painted on them.

Three other synagogues have been attacked in recent weeks. Petrol bombs were thrown at two places of worship and a car was rammed into gates of a third.

Demonstrations against the Israeli offensive in Gaza have taken place across the country.

Photo:Afp/Gerard Cerles