Damascus affair

Common card · No. 349286

The Damascus affair of February 1840 was the disappearance of an Italian Catholic monk and his Muslim servant in Damascus' Jewish quarter, for which a large number of Jews were summarily tortured until they confessed to murder. As an instance of antisemitism and a blood libel, news of the case spread, across the Middle East, to Europe, and the Western world. The Christians were supported in their accusation by the French consul at Damascus, Ulysse de Ratti-Menton, a person described by historians as antisemitic and known to favour Christian merchants and advisers over their Jewish counterparts. Ratti-Menton ordered that an investigation be carried out in the Jewish quarter where both men had last been seen and encouraged the Egyptian governor of Damascus to act upon the matter, which resulted in the accused being imprisoned and interrogated under torture after which they confessed to the murder. Antisemitism increased, with Muslims and Christians alike attacking Jews. This drew international...

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