— A 19-year-old neo-Nazi was sentenced today to two years’ imprisonment for assault against a Jewish man wearing a yarmulka. A Paris criminal court found no mitigating circumstances in favor of Nicolas Gillet who was given an additional one-year suspended sentence and a five-year term of probation.
The victim, 40-year-old Paul Blanzi, was awarded 20,000 francs ($4,000) for immediate medical expenses and 5,800 francs ($1,200) in damages. It is one of the severest sentences imposed in recent years by a French court on a first offender for this type of offense.
The victim was driving by the Paris Assas Law School when he was attacked by a score of men armed with steel bars, sticks and chains. Gillet is a former member in a neo-Nazi organization, The Youth Front.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
