Attacker of French academic convicted over antisemitic epithets

A man was convicted for shouting antisemitic epithets at French philosopher and writer Alain Finkielkraut.

The 36-year-old salesman from the easteryellow vesdtsn Alsace region was sentenced to two-months’ probation, though prosecutors requested six months.

Finkielkraut is one of the most famous intellectuals in France. In February at the end of a Yellow Vest demonstration, Yellow Vest protesters yelled “Dirty Jew,” “you’re a hater, you’re going to die, you’re going to hell,” “Dirty Zionist,” “France is ours” and “return to Tel Aviv.” Police intervened to protect Finkielkraut.

The man was taken into custody and investigated for “public insult based on origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion.”

Finkielkraut, 69, has expressed support in the past for the social movement. His philosophical writing mostly discusses identity-based violence, including antisemitism.

The Yellow Vests began in the fall as a series of protests against a hike on fuel prices but has been mired since in countless instances of violence against police and a substantial amount of antisemitic hate speech.