It provoked a general outcry when a person or persons unknown have set up a support group for a man who killed his next-door neighbour by pushing her out the window four years ago. The court acquitted the assailant, arguing that he was under the influence of drugs during the attack and therefore not accountable for his actions. A lawyer of the National Office Against Anti-Semitism has filed a complaint with the prosecutor s office.

The anti-Semitic murder committed in April 2017 has shocked the whole of France. Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old Jewish woman, was killed by 27-year-old Kolibi Traore who threw her off the balcony of her Paris apartment while yelling „Allahu Akbar.”

Traore s trial has ended recently but the court s decision came as a surprise for many. He escaped punishment because the judge ruled that he was in the grip of a drug-fuelled „delusional fit,” and therefore not accountable for his actions. The legal loophole has triggered a general outcry, leading even President Emmanuel Macron – who thought it was inappropriate that those committing crimes under the influence of drugs are not punishable under the current laws – to request the amendment of the relevant legislation with the justice ministry. As a result, Jusice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti announced on 25 April that the government submitted its motion to parliament to eliminate the loophole. The legislation s debate is slated to take place at the end of May.

After the Court of Cassation had issued its ruling, thousands gathered in Paris and many large cities in France to demand a change in the legislation, as well as a retrial. Paris s Trocadero Square saw some 20 thousand demonstrators with banners and slogans, such as „There s no Republic without justice” or „Justice for Sarah Halimi.”

The outrageous murder case had other repercussions, too, as someone has recently set up a Facebook group in support of the killer. According to Le Parisien, the group called Committee in Support of Kolibi Traore („Comité de soutien à Kobili Traoré” ) appeared on Saturday, provoking quite an outrage, especially in the Jewish community. Franck Serfati, the leader of the National Office Against Anti-Semitism (BNVCA) has announced that he would file a report with the Paris prosecutor s office. He said he could not allow this „disgrace” to pass, even if the group only has 34 members at this point. BNVCA President Sammy Ghozlan called the incident „despicable” and demanded the immediate removal of the Facebook group.

Numerous politicians also took note of the case. Judging by his recent Facebook entry, MP François Pupponi was shocked to learn about the group, which he described as shameful to the memory and family of the victim. Mr Pupponi added that anti-Semitism is a scourge that can come in any shape and form. „Our fight must continue and we must eradicate [anti-Semitism] for the good of our country,” he wrote.