40 young people from different countries are said to have been regularly beaten and humiliated by employees of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish institution – the parents allegedly wanted a strict upbringing. The French judiciary is now investigating the operators of the boarding school.
(dpa)
The judiciary has launched investigations into seven employees of the facility for alleged acts of violence against students at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish boarding school in France. Meaux prosecutor Laureline Peyrefitte said on Saturday that they were being charged with aggravated violence, exploiting the weaknesses of people with psychological dependencies, and deprivation of food and care. The suspects are therefore under judicial supervision.
During the search of the school east of Paris, the investigators came across 40 young people from different countries. Some of the 13 to 18 year olds were apparently no longer able to think clearly. Some reported beatings and humiliation, but without always criticizing it, it said. One of the children also spoke of sexual violence.
Some of the young people had been cut off from the outside world for years – with the exception of monitored phone calls with the family. Their passports, cellphones and money were reportedly confiscated upon arrival at the facility. The hygienic conditions on site were poor, and the electrical system in the house posed a serious risk, it said.
In the meantime, the children had been placed in another boarding school and were being cared for by social services, the prosecutor said. It is now a matter of bringing them back to their families in their home countries as quickly as possible.
The suspects, who are now being investigated, worked in different capacities for the facility. According to the information, they deny the allegations and emphasized in the survey that the parents wanted their “difficult children” to have a strict, religious upbringing.
The suspects in management positions are also accused of, among other things, undeclared work and accommodation of vulnerable people in inhumane conditions, and the president of the association is also accused of money laundering. 430,000 euros in cash were secured on site, and 1.3 million euros were discovered in an account and also secured. According to the prosecutor, the school was closed at the behest of the mayor.