Macron establishes a day of commemoration on July 12 for the rehabilitation of Dreyfus

Emmanuel Macron on Saturday declared July 12 a national day of commemoration for the rehabilitation by the courts of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer unjustly accused of treason at the end of the 19th century, calling for "always" to remain vigilant "against the old demons" of anti-Semitism.

"From now on, every July 12, a commemoration ceremony for Dreyfus will be held, for the victory of justice and truth against hatred and anti-Semitism," the head of state wrote in a statement to the French people published by the Élysée Palace. The first ceremony will take place in 2026, on the 120th anniversary of the Court of Cassation's recognition of the captain's innocence.

"Thus, Alfred Dreyfus and those who fought through him for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity will continue to be the example that must inspire our conduct," the president emphasized.

The "Dreyfus Affair" tore French opinion apart for more than a decade against a backdrop of anti-Semitism and political-military conspiracy.

From 1894, the year of his arrest, to July 12, 1906, the date of the judgment judicially bringing the Affair to an end, Alfred Dreyfus experienced two trials, imprisonment and hard labor on Devil's Island in Guyana.

"Unfortunately, the lineage of the heirs of the anti-Dreyfusards, anti-republicans, and anti-Semites of the early and mid-20th century has never been extinguished," the head of state continued. "We know that we must always demonstrate vigilance and perseverance against these old anti-Semitic demons engendered by hatred. And today more than ever," he added.

Between January and May 2025, 504 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in France, according to the Ministry of the Interior, a decrease of 24% over one year but a doubling compared to the same period in 2013.