Ruth Elkrief says she is "hurt" by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's attacks

Solène Delinger 11:01 a.m., December 05, 2023, modified at 11:04 a.m., December 05, 2023

Ruth Elkrief could not remain silent in the face of the controversy. On Monday evening, the LCI journalist was keen to respond to the attacks of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who described her as a "fanatic" following her very tense exchange with Manuel Bompard on the subject of the war in the Middle East.

"This controversy has imposed itself on me"

"Criticizing a journalist is legitimate. It wasn't a criticism but an attack," said presenter David Pujadas. "I didn't want this controversy and I regret it, but it imposed itself on me," said Ruth Elkrief, before thanking all the people who gave her their support, from "all political families" and "from all editorial lines". Pascal Praud notably defended Ruth Elkrief, assuring that "every journalist in France should condemn these words against one of our most remarkable colleagues".

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"People seemed to discredit my way of doing my job"

After Jean-Luc Mélenchon's incendiary tweet aimed at Ruth Elkrief, the journalist received numerous hate messages. Gérald Darmanin announced that he had been placed under judicial protection. "What's at stake concerns all of us," the columnist said Monday night. "It's about defending journalists' freedom to ask questions they don't like. I have always conceived of this profession in listening to and respecting others but, at the same time, I have always thought that it was my duty to ask difficult, sensitive questions to everyone," she added. Ruth Elkrief then said she was "hurt as a woman journalist" because "people seemed to discredit my way of doing my job".

"Defining oneself by one's citizenship"

Finally, the journalist looked back on her personal journey: "I was raised in Morocco, in knowledge and intimate affection for Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultural and religious traditions. And it is precisely for this reason that I believe that only the secular Republic, even if it is mistreated and challenged, allows us to live in harmony. There is one condition: to define oneself by one's citizenship and not by one's religion or origins and not to be referred to it by others. I apply this condition to myself and to all my fellow citizens, whoever they may be, and whom I deeply respect." Ruth Elkrief concluded her column by assuring viewers that she would continue to "work in the same way."