CJC

H.E. Philippe Guelluy
Ambassador of France
42 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1M 2C9

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

We write on behalf of Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) to express our profound dismay at the premature release from prison of Nazi war criminal Maurice Papon after serving less than a third of his sentence. Papon, as you will know, was responsible as supervisor of the Bordeaux region’s Service for Jewish Questions in the Vichy régime for the deportation of some 1,500 Jews most of whom who were subsequently murdered in Auschwitz. Last year, Papon wrote that he had no regrets or felt any remorse for his actions. It is an outrage to accord this convicted Nazi war criminal such excessive leniency now, a slap in the face to France’s Holocaust survivors and those who fought against the Nazi brutality.

Published reports indicate that Justice Minister Dominique Perben is currently assessing legal grounds to overturn this decision, largely due to the outcry following Papon’s early release. Canadian Jewish Congress adds its voice to this outcry and respectfully asks that you convey our deep concerns about this unfortunate matter to your government and our strong support to Minister Perben in his efforts to reverse this course.

We thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Keith M. Landy
National President
tttJack Silverstone
ttttExecutive Vice-President