KIDNAPPED, TORTURED AND MURDERED BECAUSE HE WAS JEWISH

Ruth Isaac shared Father Gabriel Naddaf's photo to the group
Canadians for Coexistence, a Human Rights Group on FACEBOOK

KIDNAPPED, TORTURED AND MURDERED BECAUSE HE WAS JEWISH

Today marks another anniversary from the shocking murder of Ilan Halimi in 2006 who was kidnapped and brutally murdered because he was Jewish.

He was only 23 years old. French authorities initially refused to believe it was a hate crime as he was held prisoner and tortured in an apartment in Paris for 24 days. Ilan was finally abandoned in a forest with over 80% of his body already burned and died on the way to the hospital.

The lack of understanding of the profound anti-Semitic nature of the crime was one of the major reasons which made the rescue operation a catastrophe. By wishing to keep it secret and not awaking the Jewish community in France, the police prevented the photofit of the 17 year old girl who assisted the kidnap of Ilan to be released, which would have helped in the investigation process.

Tens of thousands marched in Paris against anti-Semitism after the brutal killing of Ilan, which shocked the nation. Anti-Semitism, however, is still on the rise today in certain communities, which continue to lead the anti-Israel propaganda and there is a need to remember where it all leads.

May Ilan's memory be a blessing.

Father Gabriel Naddaf