In France's high-stake legislative election, Jewish candidate faces and fights hate and division

(27 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ivry-Sur-Seine, France - 25 June 2024
1. Centrist candidate Shannon Seban handing out leaflets at local market
2. Seban amongst shoppers walking between stalls
3. Wide of Seban saying hello to staff behind stall
4. Seban talking to voter at market
5. Seban talking to woman at market
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Shannon Seban, 28, centrist candidate and unidentified woman
"(Woman:) I know very well who are. (Seban:) And? (Woman:) I wasn't there at the party on Saturday. (Seban:) Why do say that I am a zionist? (Woman:) Because, because. (Seban:) Because what? It's an insult. (Woman:) Not at all. (Seban:) It is. What's the link between the Popular Front (left-wing alliance) and Zionism? (Woman:) Zionism is a good thing? No. If you're Jewish, that's great. It's your religion? No problem. But Zionism? (Seban:) What's the problem? Why do mention religion when I'm talking about democracy, Madam? You say that I shouldn't be here. (Woman:) Very well then, speaking of democracy, you have no place here. (Seban:) Why? Why not? (Woman:) Well no. Well no. (Seban:) That's what you call a democracy, Madame. For you to tell me that I have no place here is unacceptable. (Woman, from a distance:) Aren't you ashamed to be here? (Seban:) No I'm not ashamed."
7. Seban walking through market
8. Seban and team member thanking man behind market stall
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Shannon Seban, 28, Centrist candidate:
"When I'm here, I want to fight for my values. I want to fight for peace between religions, peace between all the people whatever their religion is, whatever their social origin is and so on. And this is my fight. So of course, when she says that I am a Zionist, what does it mean? Anti-zionism is the hidden part of anti-semitism."
10. Seban and team walking through market
11. Seban talking to voter
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Shannon Seban, 28, Centrist candidate:
"Now I understand, from a few years ago, that I cannot hide the fact that I am Jewish. This is a fact. And I don't want to hide it because, you know, I love my country and I don't feel more Jewish than French. It's both. It's French and Jewish but my religion is something that is private. When I am coming here, I am a French citizen fighting for my country. I am a political woman who wants to act for my country. My religion is at home, you know what I mean."
13. Shopper paying for groceries
14. Shopping at stall
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Shannon Seban, 28, Centrist candidate:
"All French citizens need to stand up in order to condemn, and to act in order to fight this, because this is something that is damaging our society in the short term but also in the long term. It will be too late so we need to act and to stand for our values and condemn all types of threats whether it is against Muslim people, against Jewish people, against Christian people. I don't know. We need to fight this."
16. Various of Seban walking through streets of Ivry-sur-Seine
17. SOUNDBITE (French) Shannon Seban, 28, Centrist candidate:
18. Seban looking at lacerated campaign poster
19. SOUNDBITE (French) Shannon Seban, 28, Centrist candidate:
20. Seban during interview
21. Market stalls outside city hall
STORYLINE:
Amid market stalls heaped with fresh foods, the shopper walked past the young candidate campaigning for votes in France's high-stakes and torrid legislative election but then paused and doubled back to give Shannon Seban a piece of her mind.
The National Rally also has historical links to antisemitism and has spent years trying to shed them.
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[@karimaabdelmalki3601]

Which country she talking about?