New York, NY, April 6, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the French Minister of Justice to support an open trial for the 28 individuals accused in the brutal murder of Ilan Halimi, the 23-year-old French Jew from Paris who was kidnapped, tortured and left for dead by his captors. 

Reports indicate that the trial may be closed to the public because two of the accused were minors at the time of the murder.

"We share and support the position of Ruth Halimi, Ilan's mother, that an open trial would serve an important public function to educate French society about this vicious anti-Semitic hate crime and that her tragic loss would then have meaning beyond the brutal circumstances that led to his death," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

In a letter to Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Justice, the League urged the government to support an open court proceeding, noting that French law allows for public trials involving minors in certain cases.

"Given the sharp rise in attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions in France in December and January, we believe that this opportunity for a high-profile public discussion of violent anti-Semitism should not be overlooked," Mr. Foxman said.  "In all of these circumstances, it is clear to us that the benefit to the public by opening the trial far outweighs any concern over the privacy of the defendants."

In February 2006, Halimi was found naked, tortured and burned south of Paris after being held for three weeks by a gang demanding a large ransom, assuming his family was wealthy because they were Jewish.

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.