Interview Yona from Nemesis
A young woman faces a €45,000 fine for an anti-immigration sign.
Yona, spokesperson for the Nemesis collective, faces a €45,000 fine for displaying a banner. In April 2024, she posted a message saying “foreign rapists out,” prompting a complaint of racism from the left-wing mayor. In response, during the mayor's New Year's address, Yona ironically held up a sign saying “foreign rapists welcome.” Her trial is tomorrow. Today we are publishing her interview, originally conducted in French and German, translated into English.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about your background ?
My name is Yona, I am 19 years old and I am a student of economic and social administration. I grew up in a housing project in Marseille, where insecurity was omnipresent, even if I didn't realize it at the time, despite some unpleasant experiences between the ages of 10 and 15.
Then I moved to Besançon, a smaller town that was supposed to be quieter. However, as I grew up and started going out, especially in the evenings, I realized that I couldn't wear a skirt without fear of comments or worse, that I had to avoid certain neighborhoods and even certain streets in the city center. I got into the habit of always looking behind me on my way home after being followed once. I also noticed that the profiles of the people who caused me problems were often similar. Feminism, a cause close to my heart, seemed to be monopolized by the left, but in a very selective way: left-wing pseudo-feminists only talked about assault when it suited their agenda. This dishonesty disgusted me. At 17, I discovered the Nemesis collective, which denounced all violence against women and addressed the impact of immigration on women's safety. At 18, I joined the collective, took part in several shock campaigns, and shortly afterwards became the collective's spokesperson.
Can you tell us what happened to you during the “Foreign rapists out” campaign?
During my town's carnival in April 2024, knowing that the pro-immigration Green mayor would be present, we decided to march past her podium with two placards. I was holding a placard that read “Foreign rapists out.” After this action, I was summoned to the police station and held in custody for eight hours. The town hall had filed a complaint for “incitement to hatred.” Our message simply demanded the expulsion of foreign rapists, without implying that all foreigners are rapists, contrary to what the left was trying to make us say in order to demonize us. While in custody, I was subjected to various forms of pressure: I was told that if I didn't give the name of the girl who was with me or unlock my phone, I would spend the night in a cell. This action received considerable media coverage, and I received support from several political figures on the French right. Our message was repeated throughout France and even in Europe.
Can you describe the daily reality for women in France today?
For many women in France, insecurity is a daily reality. We avoid certain neighborhoods and sometimes adapt our clothing, such as not wearing skirts, to avoid inappropriate comments or behavior. At night, going out becomes stressful, and even on public transportation, we rarely feel safe. Even in broad daylight, we can feel threatened, harassed, followed, or approached in an aggressive manner. Often, these problems come from people with a similar profile, who are immigrants or undocumented. The presence of many people who are required to leave French territory (OQTF), some of whom have already assaulted or raped women, exacerbates this insecurity and makes our daily lives even more difficult.
How would you define your vision of feminism, and how do you think men can contribute to it?
For Nemesis, feminism means above all giving a voice to all women and ensuring that every voice is heard. We are calling for better security by enforcing OQTF and demanding harsher penalties for attackers and rapists, as the current penalties are often too lenient. It is also crucial to refuse to allow women to be made invisible by (trans) men who claim to be women.
We denounce assaults, often committed by people with immigrant backgrounds or in irregular situations, and emphasize that the presence of many individuals with OQTF on the streets exacerbates insecurity. In addition, we fight against backward cultures that hinder women's rights, such as the wearing of the veil or female genital mutilation. In short, for Nemesis, feminism means fighting for safety, freedom (such as being able to go out dressed as you wish) and justice for all women, while addressing the specific problems associated with certain migratory dynamics, which are often neglected by left-wing pseudo-feminism.
What message would you like to send to women to encourage them to get more involved in your movement?
If I had to convince women to join us, I would tell them not to remain passive in the face of the injustices and insecurity we experience. It is crucial to mobilize and get involved to defend our rights and our safety. By joining our movement, you will help make our voices heard and fight against aggression. Together, we have the power to change things and make our environment safer for all women. Your commitment is essential to move forward and achieve the justice we deserve.
What measures would you like to see adopted to improve the conditions of women in France?
We are not a political party and believe that it is up to politicians to guarantee our safety, a job for which they are well paid. However, we are calling for common-sense measures to improve conditions for women in France: stop mass immigration, stop automatically granting French nationality, abolish birthright citizenship and family reunification, and deport foreigners or people with dual nationality who are criminals or delinquents, with a ban on returning to the country. These are simple measures that are applied by many countries, but which still seem very controversial in Western Europe.
To support her : here.
Thank you, Yona!
Readers, keep the vibes going !
Voxeuropa Herald is an initiative that shares the voices shaping Europe today: elected officials, essayists, philosophers, activists, artists and influencers. These portraits are collective responses to the crises shaking our Europe. Faced with the major upheavals of our times, Voxeuropa Herald gives a voice to those who, throughout Europe, share solutions and visions for the future. The message is clear : European realities call for European responses.
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