Sarkozy union marred by anti-semitic row

On Wednesday evening, in a ceremony attended only by close relatives and friends, the French president's son Jean Sarkozy (pictured) married Jessica Sibaoun-Darty. The service was held at night, in secret, and away from the media's glare, partly because the union has reignited a row over the dark issue of anti-semitism in France, owing to a rumour that Sarkozy junior converted to Judaism before the nuptials. Sibaoun-Darty is Jewish and an heiress to the vast Darty store chain – think John Lewis, but selling electrical and white goods only.

When the couple became engaged in the summer the media were all smiles. But problems arose when Maurice Sinet, a veteran cartoonist for the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, wrote an article which appeared to reinforce the old stereotype that links Jews and money. The article concluded: "He'll go far, that kid" - and it caused an uproar.

Twenty leading writers and politicians, including the mayor of Paris, wrote an open letter to Le Monde saying Sinet had "crossed the line between humorous insult and hateful caricature". The editor of Charlie Hebdo agreed and sacked Sinet. Matters were made worse when the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism brought a court case against Sinet for incitement to racial hatred, citing the Sarkozy article.

Sinet still denies the claims of anti-semitism and has countered by lodging a legal complaint, saying death threats have been made against him. He has also vowed to launch his own magazine to defend freedom of speech.