Violent Assault on Veiled Woman in Reims Sparks Outrage and Religious Freedom Debate

The incident occurred on Thursday evening. According to police sources, the 20-year-old victim "was accosted by a group of young individuals as she was going to her mother’s house". Among them, a young man, "who would be in dispute with her, is said to have approached her to ask her to remove her veil, which she refused to do," reports France3. He is said to have forcibly removed her veil and struck her several blows to the face, before leaving the scene. The young woman is said to have been subjected to Islamophobic insults from her attackers. She came away with an injury to her nose and cheekbone. But it was not necessary to take her to the hospital.

The victim had been "struck by a single individual," the findings of her injuries by a medico-legal unit are ongoing and an investigation has been opened, said Reims prosecutor François Schneider, specifying that no arrests have yet been made at this stage. However, he has not yet communicated on the motive for the incident, or on the profile of the alleged aggressor(s).

On the web, this assault has provoked reactions from politicians. "When Islamophobic fascists are encouraged by the government and the media, sexist violence is unleashed. Enough!" reacted Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Insoumise, on X.

"If confirmed, these facts are unacceptable as they infringe on the integrity of individuals and religious freedom," the Marne prefecture reacted in a statement released in the late afternoon. And to add: "The state services have contacted the representatives of the Muslim faith to assure them of the attention of the state and the vigilance of the police and gendarmerie forces."