Paris’s aspiration to stage the Olympic Games in 2024 is under threat partly because of so-called ‘no go zones’ in the city where immigrants from Asia and Africa pester and abuse women.
Areas like Place de la Chapelle, formerly a quiet square behind the Gare du Nord train station, have been transformed in a short space of time into havens for immigrant rough sleepers and drug dealers which are said to be increasingly intimidating for many people, especially women.
According go the Sunday Times of London, since 2015 a huge influx of immigrants – mostly single men – have begun sleeping in parks, on the streets and under the arches of the Metro bridges in northeast Paris.
They have been accused of verbally abusing women in the streets, routinely shouting “Bitch” and “Dirty whore”. Street robbery and drug taking have also become rife.
Conservative councilor Pierre Liscia told the Sunday Times: “The cynical thing is that last month a vast clean-up operation was launched when the Olympic committee came to visit for an inspection ahead of the Games. They moved out 1600 people in 24 hours. I find it contemptible that the mayor’s office acted only when there was media attention.”
A woman using the alias ‘Laurence’ started a petition earlier this year in a bid to clean up Place de la Chapelle, where she lives with her eight-year-old daughter.
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