Elie Ankri, a Jewish baker of Sfax, who was arrested on July 26th, on charges of having blinded a local Arab during the riots in Sfax, was sentenced to three months imprisonment today.
The verdict has aroused indignation among the Jews of Tunis. Witnesses for Ankri testified that the Arab, allegedly blinded by his shot, has lost his eyesight from disease, while, actually, Ankri fired in the air.
The Jewish press blames the verdict on several prominent Jews who paid the blinded Arab two thousand francs compensation, in an effort to have the entire case withdrawn. The Arab, however, accepted the money as a confession of guilt, and persisted in his suit against Ankri.
Ankri’s arrest occurred after the riots in Sfax, which arose when the Jews were accused of defiling a Mosque.
Ankri, who was attacked, fired once
in the air, in order to frighten his attackers and to attract the attention of the police, he declared. He was arrested and held in prison for two months without bail, despite the fact that the French authorities recommended his release and despite the fact that the police and government Commissioners, from the very outset, recommended his release on bail.
Ankri was tried by a Moslem tribunal. The anti-Semitic excesses in Tunis which assumed a serious nature during the summer led to the replacement of the French Resident General Manceron, who was charged with laxity during the riots.
The appointment of Count Bonnefoy Sebour in his place aroused dissatisfaction among the Jews inasmuch as the new Resident General has a reputation as an anti-Semite.
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