Bxl-Media: Mr Ghozlan, you are the President of the National Bureau of Vigilance Against Antisemitism (BNVCA). What can you tell us about the work and objectives of your institution?
Sammy Ghozlan: Thank you for this opportunity, as you know, the BNVCA was created in 2002, following several antisemitic acts, whose authors and motives were unknown. Indeed, the Jewish institutions as well as those of the Republic were focused on the extreme right, whereas it was the left and the extreme left that had incited the population of Muslim origin to hatred against Israel and to attacks against Jews. Since the first arrests, it has been deduced that the acts committed were mainly committed by people from North Africa and Black Africa, who claimed to be Muslims, before stating that a maximum of information was transmitted to the authorities of the French State, in order to protect people of the Jewish faith and to change the law on this subject.
Bxl-Media: A couple of notorious anti-Semites (Dounia Filali and her husband Adnane) have just requested asylum in France. Your reaction was immediate to denounce the antisemitism of this couple. What steps have you taken in your capacity as President of the National Bureau of Vigilance Against Antisemitism (BNVCA)?
Sammy Ghozlan: To answer your question, OFPRA is under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior, and I have stated that I have referred the matter to Gérald DARMANIN and Julien BOUCHER, Director General of the aforementioned Office. As such, there is a need to remain vigilant today in the face of this case, as it is unacceptable to grant asylum to these individuals, given that this is in
contradiction with the law on antisemitism. These individuals will have to answer to Moroccan justice and not to France, because there is a risk here of pushing young people to become extremists.
Bxl-Media: Anti-Semitism is spreading all over the world, and especially in France; on average, there are nearly 600 anti-Semitic acts per year in the country.
Does France need to welcome on its territory more people fed by antisemitism?
Sammy Ghozlan: I consider that the speeches that indicate that France is fighting against antisemitism are inconceivable and incoherent, insofar as the country welcomes people of a certain reputation and whose antisemitic leanings are proven, and who are reputed to be swindlers. We will take the necessary steps to follow up our request, not only with the Cabinet of the Minister of the Interior, but also with the competent Prefect.
Bxl-Media: France does not respond favourably to your alarm signal and your explicit request not to grant asylum to this anti-Semitic couple, what will be your reaction then? Will the Israeli government intervene with its counterpart, as it did in the case of the comedian Dieudonné?
Sammy Ghozlan: The National Bureau of Vigilance against Antisemitism (BNVCA) does not expect to receive a negative response to our request not to grant asylum to this antisemitic couple. I have a lot of faith in the institutions of the Republic and in particular the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe. My institution has no relationship with the Israeli Government, but I remain willing to discuss this matter with the Ambassador of Israel to France.
