Around 1 a.m. on August 20, Vincent R., a man in his 30s, carried out an act of vandalism in Châtel, a luxury resort village in southeastern France. His actions were reportedly inspired by mountaineers who had displayed a Palestinian flag on Mont-Blanc four days earlier.
Using a latex glove and orange spray paint, Vincent R. drove a car borrowed from his mechanic for approximately 10 kilometers. He then continued on foot, concealing the spray can in his pocket and covering his hand with the glove to avoid detection.
Once in Châtel, which is equipped with video surveillance, he tagged eight vehicles with the phrase “Free Palestine.” During the investigation, authorities determined that only four of the cars belonged to members of the Lubavitch Jewish community.
At the Thonon-les-Bains criminal court on August 25, Judge François Bouriaud emphasized the antisemitic nature of the act. “What you did is pure antisemitism,” he told Vincent R., highlighting that the offense targeted victims based on religion and nationality.
During the trial, Vincent R. admitted that he assumed all the vehicles belonged to Israeli Jews. When questioned by the court about possible British license plates on some cars, he said, “No. To me, an Israeli is a Jew; it’s both a religion and a nation.”
The court also explored whether Vincent R. considered the “Free Palestine” message harmless. He maintained that he saw it merely as property damage and not a personal insult.
“Because to me, ‘Free Palestine‘ isn’t insulting. It’s not like I wrote ‘Death to Jews,'” he said. Legal representatives for the victims stressed that the act caused emotional distress and reflected broader antisemitic sentiments.
Cédric Huissoud, representing the civil party, pressed Vincent R. on whether he considered the plaintiffs responsible for events in Palestine. The defendant admitted he did not know much about the subject but connected the victims’ nationality to their religion.
Ultimately, the Thonon-les-Bains court sentenced Vincent R. to eight months in jail for damaging property based on the victims’ perceived membership in a religious and national group. The verdict underscores ongoing concerns in France about hate crimes targeting Jewish communities.
Authorities have urged communities to remain vigilant and report incidents of vandalism or antisemitism. The case highlights the legal consequences of actions motivated by prejudice, even when the perpetrator claims political intent.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
