Rabat – At least 17 new accusations of sexual violence have surfaced against Abbé Pierre, the late French monk known for his humanitarian work with the poor, with some of the alleged incidents taking place in Morocco.
Published on Friday, the investigation revealed abuse dating back to the 1950s, prompting the charities he founded to distance themselves from their once-revered leader, French outlet Le Monde reported.
The new wave of allegations against Pierre, who passed away in 2007, has shaken France as he was known for his lifetime of aid to the poor and founding both the Emmaus community and the Abbé Pierre Foundation.
The latest accusations include non-consensual touching, forced sexual acts, and even sexual abuse involving a child. According to the investigation, abuse occurred not only in France but also in countries such as the United States, Morocco, and Switzerland, spanning over five decades.
These revelations come just months after the first allegations of sexual misconduct against Pierre surfaced in July. In response, both the Abbé Pierre Foundation and Emmaus, the charities he established, initiated an investigation conducted by the consultancy firm Egaé.
This inquiry has since uncovered further testimony from victims, including former volunteers, workers at places where Pierre stayed, and people he met at public events. The abuse reportedly took place between the 1950s and 2000s, and mainly targeted vulnerable individuals under his care.
One of the testimonies includes an incident in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, where a woman was reportedly “forced to masturbate” Pierre in 1956, according to Le Monde. Another testimony recounts an incident in Paris in 1989, where a woman described being forced to watch him engage in sexual acts and perform oral sex, the report added.
The latest accusations have prompted both Emmaus and the Abbé Pierre Foundation to distance themselves from their founder’s tarnished legacy. Emmaus has announced the permanent closure of the memorial dedicated to Pierre, while the Abbé Pierre Foundation plans to change its name entirely. Both organizations have reaffirmed their “total support for victims” and praised the courage of those who came forward to speak out against their former leader.
