France Has So Many Problems

Every week we read another story about the massive problems there. Here is one more;

“CRETEIL, France Apr 8, 2006 (AP)— A French court sentenced a young man to 25 years in prison Saturday for burning a woman alive, a case that drew nationwide attention to violence against women in tough suburban housing projects.

After six hours of deliberation starting late Friday night, the judges announced their verdict early Saturday, finding Jamal Derrar, 22, guilty of acts of torture or barbarity that led to unintentional death.

On Oct. 4, 2002, Derrar poured gasoline over Sohane Benziane, 17, and then approached her with a cigarette lighter, setting her on fire. She died later at a hospital with burns over 80 percent of her body.’

Here is the kicker:

The crime in a housing project in Vitry-sur-Seine southeast of Paris exposed the problem of violence against women in impoverished French suburbs. Vitry-sur-Seine was the starting point of a protest march four months later for women’s equality.

Derrar’s accomplice, Tony Rocca, was sentenced to eight years in prison for barring the door of the garbage closet where Derrar left the victim while she screamed for help. Rocca denied the charge.

The two young men sat silently, their heads down, during the sentencing. Their supporters wept outside, calling the sentences too heavy.