





A young woman in a Mexican jail.

A kidnapping ring that abused, tortured and even killed one hostage.

A boyfriend, leader of the "Los Zodiacos" gang, with whom the young woman lived, even while he sequestered hostages.

Hostages who testify they heard and recognize the young woman's French accented voice while imprisoned.

Notoriously corrupt police who staged an arrest, intimidated witnesses and violated basic judicial procedures.

Distraught parents, who have been to see the President of France TEN TIMES.

Massive preparations throughout France to celebrate a friendly nation: cancelled.

And now : a full blown diplomatic crisis. 350 events all around France in jeopardy. Potential negative economic impact on French companies trading with Mexixo.

Welcome to the Affaire Cassez.

All is mud. And the French press has done nothing to make matters clearer.

There are 1600 French citizens in prisons around the world whose names we don't even know. And many countries whose justice systems are even more flawed than Mexico's have been celebrated with barely a hiccup.

MAM is no diplomat, and Sarkozy's commitment to human rights has always been flexible. So is something other than pure principle at work?

Maybe a good investigative journalist will look deeply into the matter?

Reminder: The last time France mobilized itself so massively for a French hostage in South America, it was for Ingrid Betancourt, whose professor at Sciences Po and good friend was Dominique Villepin, former Prime Minister of France.

Just in: summary of case from NYT Katrin Bennhold. Also, if you read French, here is a passionate defense of Florence Cassez by three French journalists who say that the entire case against her, in every detail, was fabricated by the Mexican authorities. In Le Monde.

Here is a list of hundreds of cultural events which had been planned for L'année du Mexique, coordinated by the Institut Française. Xavier Darcos, former Minister of Education, is currently the Director.