Francois Hollande has called for tougher laws governing race hate, homophobic or religion-based crimes.
The French president laid out his proposals at a Jewish group's dinner in Paris, during which he reassured the country's Jewish community that they were both welcome and safe in France.
He said that he wanted "faster, more effective sanctions" against race hate during the speech, which came just over a month after 17 people were killed in joint attacks at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and at a kosher supermarket.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His reassurances come as part of a concerted push by the French government to extend support to the country's Jewish community.
In the wake of the supermarket siege, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Jews to return "home" to the country due to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. The French prime minister Manuel Valls reacted swiftly to the remarks with a statement to French Jews that "France is wounded with you and France does not want you to leave".
More than 100 Jewish graves were desecrated in eastern France earlier this month, the BBC reports. There has also been a rise in Islamophobic incidents following the attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices.
President Hollande's remarks were overshadowed by a row that erupted between French Jewish and Muslim community leaders, after the leader of the French Jewish community accused young Muslims of being responsible for "all violence today”, Reuters reports.
The remarks prompted a leading Muslim group to boycott the annual dinner, which typically draws together leaders from all the major religions as well as prominent politicians.
On Monday night, meanwhile, French authorities seized the documents of six nationals who were allegedly planning to travel to Syria to join jihadists, the BBC reports.
Bernard Cazeneuve, interior minister, said the men wanted to join the Islamic State militant group, according to information from intelligence services.
-
Questions abound over the FAA’s management of BoeingTalking Points Some have called the agency’s actions underwhelming
-
Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytellingFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
-
Robert Redford: the Hollywood icon who founded the Sundance Film FestivalFeature Redford’s most lasting influence may have been as the man who ‘invigorated American independent cinema’ through Sundance
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace planSpeed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
UK, 3 Western allies recognize Palestinian stateSpeed Read Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized the state of Palestine
-
Has Israel’s Qatar strike scuppered a ceasefire?Today’s Big Question Netanyahu ‘gambles’ on ‘overwhelming strength’ rather than diplomacy in attack on Hamas negotiation team in Doha
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Israeli security cabinet OKs Gaza City takeoverSpeed Read Netanyahu approved a proposal for Israeli Defense Forces to take over the largest population center in the Gaza Strip
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
