Murderer of Holocaust Survivor Mireille Knoll Sentenced for Life

A French court sentenced Yacine Mihoub to life in prison for murdering Holocaust survivor Mireille Knoll, 85, in March 2018.

Knoll was stabbed 11 times and partially burned after a fire was set in her apartment. Mihoub, who was Knoll’s neighbor, is alleged to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” while killing her. Mihoub will not be eligible for parole in 22 years. The court concluded that Knoll’s murder was antisemitic because Mihoub believed she had “hidden treasures” since Knoll was Jewish. Additionally, a second man, Alexander Carrimbacus, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for theft with antisemitic intent.

Knoll’s family lauded the court’s sentence as “just.” Jewish groups also praised the verdict.

“Mireille Knoll survived the Holocaust only to die as the victim of violent antisemitism,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “My thoughts are with her loved ones as the trial comes to an end and the perpetrator is sentenced to life in prison. May her memory forever be a blessing.”

Mireille Knoll survived the Holocaust only to die as the victim of violent antisemitism. My thoughts are with her loved ones as the trial comes to an end and the perpetrator is sentenced to life in prison. May her memory forever be a blessing. https://t.co/FjWnYaATeg

— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 10, 2021

“The murderer of Mireille Knoll, an 85-year-old French Holocaust survivor killed in a brutal antisemitic attack in 2018, has been sentenced to life imprisonment,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted. “Nothing can bring her back, but at the very least justice has been served. Our thoughts are with her family today.”

The murderer of Mireille Knoll, an 85-year-old French Holocaust survivor killed in a brutal antisemitic attack in 2018, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Nothing can bring her back, but at the very least justice has been served. Our thoughts are with her family today. https://t.co/bKBmZXxYfh

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 10, 2021

Dr. Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said in a statement, “There should be no reduction of sentences for such a heinous crime. We expect that – taking into account the antisemitic circumstances – this will represent a new step for French jurisprudence. The police and judges now have access to the [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] Definition and hate-crime legislation.”

StandWithUs Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson tweeted, “Antisemitism is deadly. May Mireille’s memory be a blessing.”

Holocaust survivor Mireille Knoll, 85, was stabbed 11 times by a jihadi in France who then set her apartment on fire.

Now, finally, justice.
Her antisemitic murderer has been sentenced with life imprisonment.

Antisemitism is deadly.
May Mireille’s memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/oNOkP2KGUp

— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) November 10, 2021