PARIS: A self-proclaimed “gang of barbarians” accused of kidnapping a young Jewish man in a Paris suburb, torturing him for 24 days and killing him went on trial yesterday.
The death of Ilan Halimi, 23, in 2006 horrified France and came to symbolize a rise in anti-Semitic violence in its poor, multi-ethnic suburbs.
The leader of the “barbarians,” Youssouf Fofana, smirked at Halimi’s relatives as he entered the courtroom.
Bearded and wearing a white tracksuit, Fofana gave his identity during formal questioning by the judge as “Arabs African revolt barbarian salafist army.”
During his time in detention, Fofana, a young French man of Ivorian origin, has bombarded the magistrates investigating the case with letters full of anti-Semitic insults.
He stands accused of kidnapping, sequestration, torture and murder. The charge sheet also includes anti-Semitism, which French law considers an “aggravating circumstance” requiring the stiffest sentences. Fofana faces life in jail.
Fofana has admitted all the charges against him except the accusation that he stabbed Halimi to death.
Among the 26 other defendants are the girl who is alleged to have been used as bait to capture Halimi and young men accused of taking part in the abduction and guarding the captive.
After the murder, Fofana fled to Ivory Coast. From there he made death threats by telephone to Halimi’s father and girlfriend. He was extradited to France on March 4, 2006.
