New York, NY, February 22, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on the French government to act swiftly in bringing to justice those responsible for the brutal murder of Ilan Halimi, a 23-year-old French Jew from Paris who was kidnapped and tortured by his captors.  The League praised the French government for substantiating an anti-Semitic dimension to the crime.

Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director urged a swift and thorough investigation in a letter to Nicolas Sarkozy, the Minister of State and Minister of the Interior and Regional Development:

We are writing to express our appreciation for your statement substantiating the fact that there was an anti-Semitic dimension involved with the kidnapping, torture and brutal murder of Ilan Halimi.

In your position as Interior Minister, such a statement is of tremendous importance in reassuring the Jewish community of France and in guiding the investigation of the police.  We both trust and expect that those responsible for this barbaric crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

At the same time, we respectfully urge that you continue your leadership in ensuring that the Jewish community in France is granted maximum protection from violence and intimidation by extremists and anti-Semites.  The juncture between criminality and anti-Semitism which, as you have pointed out, would appear to be present in the case of Mr. Halimi's murder makes such protection all the more urgent.

Once again, we thank you and the government of France for your pivotal role in confronting anti-Semitism and we wish you all success in the effort to achieve justice for the family of Ilan Halimi.

ADL is in close contact with the French Jewish community and has extended its condolences to the family and the community at large.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.