French Jewish Politician Died of Asphyxiation
Alain Ghozland Image by Facebook
A French Jewish politician found dead in his home was killed by asphyxiation, the autopsy found.
The body of Alain Ghozland, 73, a municipal councilor in the Paris suburb of Creteil, was also reportedly riddled with stab wounds when it was discovered in his apartment Tuesday morning.
An unnamed judicial source told the French MetroNews website Wednesday that the cause of death was “traumatic asphyxiation,” which he is quoted as saying “confirms the voluntary nature of the homicide.” He declined to say whether or not Ghozland was strangled to death, however.
Ghozland’s body was found after his brother called police because the politician failed to show up at their synagogue, as he usually does each morning, the news channel RTL reported. Ghozland’s apartment was ransacked, possibly by intruders, and his body showed deep lacerations that appeared to have been caused by a knife.
Police reportedly believe the death was the result of a botched robbery. Ghozland’s family has suggested the death may be related to anti-Semitism.
Creteil, which is about seven miles from the heart of Paris, was the site of a rape and robbery committed in December 2014 against a couple who said they were targeted because they were Jews.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
