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Macron condemns antisemitism after Jewish girl is raped

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French President Emmanuel Macron has raised serious concerns about the growing threat of antisemitism in schools after a 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped in what police have classified as a hate crime. According to French media, the girl reported being in a park in Courbevoie, north-west of Paris, with a friend last Saturday when three boys, two aged 13 and one aged 12, approached her. She knew at least one of them. The boys dragged her to an isolated location, where they hurled antisemitic abuse at her and raped her.

The boys were arrested on Monday, and two of them were charged with gang rape, antisemitic insults and violence, and issuing death threats. One of the attackers reportedly threatened to kill the girl if she went to the police. In response to the attack, people took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against antisemitism, carrying banners with messages such as “It could have been your sister.”

Macron addressed the attack during a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday. He asked the Minister of Education, Nicole Belloubet, to ensure that schools hold discussions on racism and antisemitism in the coming days to prevent “hateful speech with serious consequences” from “infiltrating” classrooms. Belloubet later condemned the crime on social media, stating that “every part of this crime is revolting.” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called the attack “absolutely despicable, unbearable, and unspeakable,” noting that antisemitism has been on the rise in France since October 7.

Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia expressed horror at the incident and called for the perpetrators to be firmly punished. He emphasized that no one can be excused from the current surge in antisemitism. A January 2024 report by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) highlighted a 284% increase in antisemitic acts between 2022 and 2023, with nearly 13% occurring in schools. The report noted a significant spike in such incidents following the October 7 Hamas attacks against communities in Israel.

The attack and the rise in antisemitism come amid a heated election campaign in France, after President Macron called a snap parliamentary election two weeks ago. Politicians from various parties quickly condemned the incident and vowed to combat antisemitism.

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McCann suspect raped woman at knifepoint, trial told

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Hazel Behan, a woman who claims to have been raped by the man suspected of Madeleine McCann’s murder, gave chilling testimony in court. She recounted feeling an indescribable fear when awakened by a masked intruder. Christian Brückner, the prime suspect, denies involvement in both cases. The trial in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, focuses on unrelated sex offense charges against Brückner, alleged to have occurred in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.

Behan, a former holiday rep in Praia de Rocha, vividly described the night of the assault in June 2004. She walked home alone after an argument with her boyfriend and was attacked in her apartment. The assailant, dressed entirely in black and armed with a knife, subjected her to a prolonged ordeal, including rape and filming parts of the assault. Behan endured physical and emotional trauma, and despite years passing, she still suffers from panic attacks and requires medication.

The trial also highlighted Behan’s disappointment with the Portuguese police’s handling of her case. She recalled feeling neglected and mistreated during the investigation. Years later, upon seeing Brückner’s photo in a news article, Behan recognized him and decided to come forward, linking her assault to his previous convictions.

Behan emphasized the profound impact the attack had on her life, stating that she no longer feels like the carefree person she was before. Brückner’s defense team maintains skepticism about the case’s foundation and is challenging the charges.

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Dani Alves trial: Ex-Brazil player guilty of nightclub rape

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Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been found guilty by a Spanish court of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub. He has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison, along with five years’ probation. Alves denied the allegations, but the court ruled against him.

His lawyer plans to appeal the verdict, while the victim’s lawyer welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the truth and the victim’s suffering.

Alves, known for his illustrious football career, had argued that his intoxication should mitigate his sentence, but the court disagreed, stating that alcohol did not excuse his actions.

The court detailed the assault, noting evidence beyond the victim’s testimony and highlighting Alves’s forceful behavior despite her protests.

Alves has been in pre-trial detention since January 2023 and has changed his testimony multiple times. Despite his denial, the court found evidence supporting the victim’s account.

Alves’s successful football career, which includes multiple league titles and international appearances, contrasts starkly with this conviction for a serious crime.

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McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated sex offences

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Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, recently appeared in a German court for unrelated sex offenses. He faces charges of rape and sexual abuse dating back to between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. Brückner, who is already serving a seven-year sentence for rape, denies any involvement in Madeleine McCann’s case.

The trial was postponed due to allegations that a lay judge had posted radical views on social media. Brückner has never been formally charged in the McCann case, but German investigators identified him as a suspect in 2020. The charges he currently faces are for offenses unrelated to Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brückner’s lawyer has criticized the charges, but the trial continues in Lower Saxony, Germany. Brückner has a history of convictions in Portugal, including rape and theft. Although initially not closely investigated in Madeleine’s case, Brückner’s connection to it has brought him under scrutiny.

He is currently serving a prison sentence and the outcome of this trial may affect his incarceration beyond his current sentence.

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Josef Fritzl could be moved to care home – reports

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Austrian sex offender Josef Fritzl, notorious for imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and fathering seven children with her, may be relocated from a high-security prison, as reported by local media. Now 88 and diagnosed with dementia, a recent psychiatric evaluation suggests that he no longer poses a threat to the public. This development opens the possibility for a court to decide whether he should be moved to a standard prison.

Fritzl is currently held in a high-security institution for mentally disturbed offenders, situated in Stein Prison in the town of Krems an der Donau. Having been sentenced to life in 2009, he becomes eligible for parole this year under Austrian law, which allows those with life sentences to apply for conditional release after serving 15 years. Legal experts speculate that conditional release or placement in a care home are potential outcomes for Fritzl, who has also changed his name.

Despite a regional court’s 2022 ruling that Fritzl was “no longer a danger” and could be transferred to a regular jail, the Higher Regional Court in Vienna had previously blocked a similar decision. The Fritzl case, which came to light in 2008 in Amstetten, is considered one of Austria’s most heinous criminal incidents. Fritzl was convicted of charges including murder, rape, incest, and enslavement of his daughter. In response to the traumatic events, Fritzl’s daughter and her children have assumed new identities for their protection.

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Ousman Sonko: Gambian ex-minister goes on trial in Switzerland for murder

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A former interior minister from The Gambia, Ousman Sonko, is facing trial in Switzerland on charges of crimes against humanity. Sonko fled to Switzerland in 2016, just before the fall of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s repressive regime. He is accused of involvement in killings, rape, and torture, with evidence presented by NGOs leading to his arrest. Sonko’s defense argues that he was not responsible, claiming the National Intelligence Agency was behind the alleged crimes and was not under his authority.

Switzerland is utilizing universal jurisdiction to prosecute the case, allowing countries to try individuals for crimes committed elsewhere. Sonko is the highest-ranking government official in Europe to be prosecuted under this principle. The trial is seen as a potential warning to repressive governments, emphasizing that they can be held accountable even outside their borders. The extensive charges against Sonko include ordering killings, torture, and rape against political opponents, potentially constituting crimes against humanity under Swiss law.

Swiss investigators gathered evidence in The Gambia, interviewing numerous victims and witnesses. The trial marks only the second instance of Switzerland using universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity. Human rights groups believe it serves as a precedent for accountability. Sonko, who was a key figure in Jammeh’s regime, fled to Switzerland and claimed asylum, leading to his arrest after Trial International provided details of his alleged abuses. The trial is expected to last a month, with a verdict scheduled for March. Other countries are also pursuing cases against members of Jammeh’s regime, contributing to efforts for accountability in the face of widespread abuses during his rule.

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Neuschwanstein: US man charged over deadly attack at famed German castle

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A man in the United States has been charged with severe crimes, including murder, rape, and attempted murder, following a violent assault on two American women near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany in June. The 31-year-old suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed publicly, could face a life sentence if found guilty.

According to the prosecutors, the accused enticed the 21-year-old and 22-year-old women off the trail, sexually assaulting the younger victim. A struggle ensued when the older victim attempted to intervene, leading to both women being pushed into a deep ravine. While the 21-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries, the older victim managed to survive.

Neuschwanstein Castle, a renowned tourist destination in southern Bavaria, Germany, attracts over 1.3 million visitors annually. Built in the 19th century as a royal residence, it has never been inhabited.

The incident occurred on June 14, shortly after the perpetrator encountered the two women near the Marienbrücke bridge, a popular spot for viewing the castle. He guided them to an obscure path under the guise of helping them navigate the challenging route to the bridge.

The prosecutors stated that the suspect forcefully immobilized the 21-year-old, undressing her and engaging in sexual acts. When the 22-year-old attempted to intervene, he pushed her down the slope. Although she fell around 50 meters (164 feet) and sustained multiple injuries, she managed to survive. Allegedly, the man strangled and raped the younger victim before also pushing her down the slope, resulting in her death.

The authorities apprehended the suspect later that day following an extensive search involving more than 25 law enforcement vehicles. An eyewitness, another American tourist, reported observing the suspect with scratches on his face as he walked alongside the police during the arrest.

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