Racism cases in France jumped 32% in 2023: Human rights commission

By Nur Asena Erturk

Cases of racism in France jumped 32% in 2023, according to a human rights commission report.

Tolerance for all minority groups in France fell in 2023, particularly for the Jewish community, and Muslims are the least-tolerated group, the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) said in a report Thursday.

Racist cases increased 32% in 2023 according to the Interior Ministry, the report added, and the most increase was observed in antisemitic racist cases, which were at 284%.

The figures can have multiple factors, including Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, and polarizing debates on asylum and migration, the CNCDH added, noting that 1 million people were subjected to at least one racist attack in 2023, according to the statistical office’s figures.

More than half of the French, 51%, consider “not feeling at home anymore in France,” a rise of eight points compared to the spring of 2022, said the report. It said that 56% of the French, seven points higher than in the spring of 2022, confirm that there are “too many immigrants in France.”

The figures reflect the recent context on the political and social atmosphere,e with the rise of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, which received more than 30% of the vote in the European Parliament elections in June.

RN’s victory pushed French President Emmanuel Macron to acknowledge his centrist bloc’s defeat, dissolve parliament, and announce snap elections.

RN leader Jordan Bardella said the party will focus on migration, stressing that the problem is placing an “unbearable weight” on “public finances and the social security system.”

He vowed to curb migration into France, end birthright citizenship, implement legal changes to make it easier to deport foreigners convicted of crimes and take measures to address economic issues.

The elections will be held in two rounds -- the first June 30 and the second July 7.