French Authorities Vow Justice for Felled Memorial Tree to Ilan Halimi

Paris, Aug 15 (AP) French authorities are determined to locate and prosecute unidentified perpetrators who recently cut down an olive tree planted in memory of Ilan Halimi, a French Jew tragically murdered in 2006.

The memorial tree, dedicated to Halimi, was planted 14 years ago in the northern Paris suburb of Épinay-sur-Seine. On Wednesday night, it was attacked, apparently with a chainsaw. The town shared a photo on its Facebook page showing the tree's leafy crown completely severed from its trunk, leaving only a stump protruding from the ground.

In February 2006, Halimi was discovered naked, handcuffed, and bearing burn marks near railroad tracks in the Essonne region south of Paris. He succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital after being held captive and tortured for over three weeks. At just 23 years old, his brutal murder reignited concerns about antisemitism in France and sparked deep anxiety within the country's Jewish community, the largest in Western Europe.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed his condemnation of the attack on X, stating that the olive tree “was felled by antisemitic hatred.” He emphasized, “No crime can uproot memory. Our foremost duty is the relentless fight against the deadly poison of hatred.”

In another statement, the Paris police chief denounced “this ignoble act” and confirmed that an investigation is underway. He assured the public, “Everything will be done to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

Unfortunately, this is not the first time efforts to honor Halimi have been desecrated. In 2017, a plaque near Paris commemorating him was vandalized—ripped off, thrown to the ground, and defaced with antisemitic graffiti. (AP)

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