New York, NY, February 4, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended the French Minister of the Interior, Dominique de Villepin, for his call to disband all neo-Nazi groups operating in France.

The following is the text of a letter to Minister de Villepin from Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director:

We are writing to commend you for your call to dissolve neo-Nazi groups in France.

We appreciate your public statements identifying these groups as a threat and a danger to French society and welcome your commitment to ensure that these groups are not reconstructed under false names.

We hope this measure will help the Jewish community of France and other minority communities feel less vulnerable to attacks.  We urge you to continue your efforts to crack down on neo-Nazi groups, as well as other extremist organizations, and strengthen law enforcement protection of Jewish and other minorities' lives and institutions in France.

We welcome an opportunity to meet in the near future to discuss these and other issues of mutual concern.

 

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.