Antisemitic remark at French ski resort: Business owner questioned and released
The woman who stated, "The Jewish community, there are too many of you," was summoned for questioning by the Gendarmerie. French media reported that she provided explanations regarding the context of her remarks. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence in the case, which has sparked significant public outcry.
The owner of a business at the Les Deux Alpes resort in the Alps was questioned on Saturday by the Gendarmerie. During the interrogation, the woman admitted that she had complained to Jewish vacationers that "there are too many of you" at the resort. Following the questioning, she was released.
According to the Grenoble public prosecutor's office, the business owner, whose name has not been disclosed, provided her account of the context in which the words were spoken. No legal decision regarding prosecution has been made at this stage, as investigators need to collect further testimonies.
In the video, the woman, who owns a food stall near the resort's summer sled track, is seen saying, "There are too many of you." When asked by the customer to clarify who she is referring to, she explicitly replies: "The Jewish community, there are too many of you." When the man filming the conversation reminds her that French law prohibits discrimination and antisemitic remarks, she retorts: "At some point, it's just too much for people."
The video, which garnered hundreds of thousands of views on social media, has caused a stir across France. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the opening of an investigation on Saturday.
"As soon as the video was brought to my attention, the National Gendarmerie opened an investigation in cooperation with the prosecution," the minister wrote on X, adding that the woman will be required to answer for her words, which "have no place in our Republic."
Aurore Bergé, the minister in charge of the fight against discrimination, stated:
"No antisemitic act, no racist act, and no act of hatred should be tolerated."
She added that she had requested the prefect of the Isère department to immediately submit a report to the public prosecutor, in accordance with Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure.
