PARIS, France – French President Emmanuel Macron warned Sunday against the resurgence of antisemitism as France commemorated the 120th anniversary of the exoneration of Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, whose wrongful treason conviction became one of the country’s most infamous miscarriages of justice.
Macron joined officials, members of the Dreyfus family and other guests at the inauguration of a statue honoring the Jewish army officer outside France’s highest court, where Dreyfus was formally cleared of all charges in 1906.
The ceremony came amid renewed concerns over antisemitism in France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community.
Macron calls for vigilance
Speaking at the unveiling, Macron said France must remain vigilant against hatred targeting people because of their identity.
“We know that the old demons of antisemitism have never completely disappeared from our country,” the French president said.
He called for continued efforts to prevent attacks targeting people because of their identity.
Earlier this year, Macron designated July 12 as France’s annual national day commemorating Dreyfus’ innocence, with this year’s observance marking the first official commemoration.
Security scare near Paris synagogue
Hours before the ceremony, police evacuated approximately 300 people from the Paris suburb of Sarcelles after intelligence services identified a suspicious vehicle parked near a synagogue.
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French authorities said the vehicle contained a “long military weapon.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigators had not determined whether the weapon was intended to target the local Jewish community.
Prosecutors opened a terrorism investigation into the incident.
Sarcelles is home to one of France’s largest Jewish communities.
France confronts renewed antisemitism
France has experienced a sharp increase in antisemitic acts—including threats, vandalism and physical assaults—since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner have previously criticized Macron following France’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state last year, arguing that the move risked fueling antisemitism.
Dreyfus affair remains defining chapter
Dreyfus, a Jewish army captain, was convicted of treason in 1894 after being falsely accused of passing military secrets to Germany.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment in a case widely viewed as exposing deep-rooted antisemitism within French institutions.
The conviction prompted a national political crisis after prominent intellectuals, including novelist Émile Zola, argued that Dreyfus had been wrongly convicted and made a scapegoat.
France’s Court of Cassation overturned the conviction on July 12, 1906, fully clearing Dreyfus of all charges.
Following his exoneration, Dreyfus returned to military service and later served during World War I. He died in 1935.
Family reflects on legacy
Among those attending Sunday’s ceremony was Dreyfus’ 99-year-old grandson, Charles Dreyfus.
“I must sadly admit that I would not have imagined, at my age, seeing antisemitism resurface with such virulence in our country,” he said.
Despite that concern, he welcomed the installation of his grandfather’s statue outside the Palace of Justice.
The monument depicts Alfred Dreyfus standing proudly while holding a broken sword, symbolizing both the injustice he endured and his eventual vindication.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: France | Emmanuel Macron | Alfred Dreyfus | Antisemitism | Jewish Community | Paris | Human Rights | Europe
