The stele of Simone Veil defaced in Lesneven. “A despicable and cowardly act”

The stele installed in memory of Simone Veil, in Lesneven, in Finistère, was the target of damage last weekend. The municipal police noted the facts on November 20, 2023. “A clearly anti-Semitic act” said the mayor of the town.

“A despicable and cowardly act”. It is with these words that the prefect of Finistère condemns the degradation of the stele erected in memory of Simone Veil in Lesneven. “This stele was unsealed and broken in two probably during the weekend”explains Alain Espinasse in a press release made public on November 21, 2023.

The damage was noted by the municipal police on Monday. Reached by telephone, the mayor of Lesneven, Claudie Balcon, indicates that she has filed a complaint with the gendarmerie in charge of the investigation. “It’s shocking, said the chosen one, because Simone Veil is a strong symbol because of her commitment and what she experienced during her deportation.”

Simone Veil was deported to Auschwitz at the age of 16. His father, brother and mother died in a concentration camp.

Claudie Balcon speaks “obvious anti-Semitic act”. She says that “the photo of Simone Veil, which was on a stone support, was torn off, before being broken in two. It is clearly the image of Simone Veil that was targeted” she declares.

The mayor of Lesneven announces that a new stele will be installed in the same place.

Another stele in memory of Simone Veil had also suffered damage, this time in Perros-Guirec in Côtes-d’Armor. The facts date back to August 2021. Swastikas and other anti-Semitic tags were discovered on the monument.

The investigation led to the arrest and subsequent indictment of two men from the department.