The manager of a leisure park in southern France has been arrested for alleged religious discrimination after a group of Israeli children were denied access to the facility, the French prosecutor's office said.

Reservation cancelled and contradictory justifications

The Israeli children, aged between 8 and 16, were on vacation in Spain and had booked a zipline tour in Porté-Puymorens, in the Pyrenees, for Thursday. The manager initially cited "personal beliefs" for denying them entry, then offered other justifications.

A message on the park's social media indicated it would be closed due to a storm and for a safety inspection, but the group was told directly that they could not enter. They later went to another recreation center without incident.

Outrage of the Jewish community

The incident drew strong condemnation from Jewish leaders in France. Perla Danan, president of CRIF in Languedoc-Roussillon, stated that "a line has been crossed" and noted that such bans evoke discriminatory practices from the Holocaust.

The French Jewish Observatory also expressed its deep indignation, stressing that an act of discrimination against minors based on their nationality or origin undermines the fundamental principles of the Republic.

Local reaction and legal consequences

The mayor of Porté-Puymorens, Jean-Philippe Augé, said the incident caused "absolute astonishment" in the small, friendly community. He emphasized that the park is operated by a private company.

French law punishes religious discrimination with up to three years in prison. The manager denies any wrongdoing.

Context of antisemitism in France

The incident adds to a rise in antisemitism in France, with a sharp increase in attacks, threats, and vandalism since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza. The Jewish community reports an increasingly hostile climate.