The Bordeaux prosecutor's office has opened an investigation following the discovery of a swastika on the entrance plaque of a women's aid center. This marks the second vandalism incident against the facility in six months. The Apafed association condemns it as an attempt to intimidate a support space for violence victims.
In Bordeaux, the prosecutor's office announced on January 7 the opening of an investigation after finding a swastika graffitied on the entrance plaque of the Gisèle-Halimi Welcome and Listening Center. Managed by the Association for the Welcome of Women in Difficulty (Apafed), the center supports women and children who are victims of violence.
This is the second incident in six months, following a previous attack on the same plaque. The probe focuses on "degradation or deterioration of another's property committed on grounds of race, ethnicity, nation, or religion" and has been assigned to the Gironde's interdepartmental directorate of the national police (DIPN).
In a statement, Apafed lamented: "Six months after the vandalization of our plaque, the Gisèle-Halimi Welcome and Listening Center has once again been targeted by acts of degradation with racist and antisemitic characteristics." A complaint was filed the previous Tuesday.
The association describes these acts as "grave, hateful, and totally unacceptable" that "aim to intimidate a place of protection, listening, and support dedicated to women and children victims of violence." This event highlights ongoing tensions around victim support facilities amid rising hate acts in France.
