(Picture: Google Maps)

A tiny hamlet in France called ‘Death to Jews’ is refusing to change its name amid accusations of antisemitism.

Residents in La-Mort-aux-Juifs village, 60 miles south of Paris, claim the name goes back to the Middle Ages and for that reason it should remain.

Activists accused villagers of prejudice this week after discovering the shocking place name – which is officially registered.

Renowned Jewish human rights group The Simon Wiesenthal Centre (SWC) has written to France’s interior minister to complain.


(Picture: Google Maps)

But Marie-Elizabeth Secretand, the deputy mayor of nearby Courtemaux, insisted the name would not change.

She told the AFP news agency: ‘It’s ridiculous. This name has always existed.



‘No one has anything against the Jews, of course, but it doesn’t surprise me that this is coming up again.’

(Picture: Google Maps)

Referring to the Nazi Occupation of France during WWII, Shimon Samuels said: ‘It is extremely shocking that this name has slipped under the radar in the 70 years that have passed since France was liberated from Nazism and the Vichy regime.’

Ultimately the decision to change the name rests with the municipal council.

Ms Secretand for the council said: ‘Why change a name that goes back to the Middle Ages or even further? We should respect these old names.

‘A previous municipal council, at least 20 years ago, already refused to change the name of this hamlet, which consists of a farm and two houses.’