Joëlle Aubron
Encyclopedia
Joëlle Aubron was a militant in the French
group Action directe.
to a middle class family. She made two failed attempts to attain her baccalauréat
. She began to alternate between temporary jobs and squatting in Paris, where she met militants of the extreme left. She became a member of Action directe in 1980.
, another member of Action directe, whom she later divorced. Granted a remission of sentence following her marriage, she was released on 24 January 1984. She began running an anarchist bookshop, then went underground in 1985, when she joined the arm of Action directe that allied itself with the Red Army Faction
. She participated in several attacks organized by Action directe, including the assassinations of General René Audran
on 25 January 1985 and Georges Besse
on 19 November 1986. Joëlle Aubron, along with Nathalie Ménigon
, is considered to be directly responsible for these two assassinations, though their respective roles have not been determined.
Arrested with her comrades Jean-Marc Rouillan, Nathalie Ménigon
and Georges Cipriani
on 21 February 1987 on a farm in Vitry-aux-Loges
(Loiret
), she was sentenced in 1989 and 1994 to life in prison, with a minimum of 18 years. She was imprisoned at the Fleury-Mérogis Prison
in Essonne
until October 1999, when she was transferred with Nathalie Ménigon to the prison of Bapaume
in Pas-de-Calais.
and Georges Minangoy.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
group Action directe.
Early life and education
Joëlle Aubron was born in Neuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
to a middle class family. She made two failed attempts to attain her baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
. She began to alternate between temporary jobs and squatting in Paris, where she met militants of the extreme left. She became a member of Action directe in 1980.
AD involvement and Arrests
Arrested on 9 April 1982, she was sentenced to 4 years in prison for concealment and possession of arms. In 1983, she married Régis SchleicherRégis Schleicher
Régis Schleicher is a former member of Action directe.-Arrest and Imprisonment:Twice sentenced to life in prison for his participation in the deaths of two police officers during the shooting at Trudaine Avenue in Paris on 31 May 1983 and in multiple robberies.-Release:In July 2009, after 25 years...
, another member of Action directe, whom she later divorced. Granted a remission of sentence following her marriage, she was released on 24 January 1984. She began running an anarchist bookshop, then went underground in 1985, when she joined the arm of Action directe that allied itself with the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
. She participated in several attacks organized by Action directe, including the assassinations of General René Audran
René Audran
René Audran was a senior official of the French Ministry of Defence. He was assassinated on 25 January 1985 by the armed group Action directe in front of his residence at La Celle-Saint-Cloud.- Background :...
on 25 January 1985 and Georges Besse
Georges Besse
Georges Besse was a French businessman who led several large state-controlled French companies during his lifetime. He was assassinated outside his home on November 17, 1986...
on 19 November 1986. Joëlle Aubron, along with Nathalie Ménigon
Nathalie Ménigon
Nathalie Ménigon was born 28 February 1957 in Enghien-les-Bains . She was convicted for acts of terrorism committed while she was a member of the French revolutionary group Action directe...
, is considered to be directly responsible for these two assassinations, though their respective roles have not been determined.
Arrested with her comrades Jean-Marc Rouillan, Nathalie Ménigon
Nathalie Ménigon
Nathalie Ménigon was born 28 February 1957 in Enghien-les-Bains . She was convicted for acts of terrorism committed while she was a member of the French revolutionary group Action directe...
and Georges Cipriani
Georges Cipriani
Georges Cipriani is a former militant of the group Action directe.-Early Life, Work and Involvement with AD:He was born in Tunis to a working class family, and later immigrated to France. In the late 1960s, he worked as a milling machine operator in the machine tool workshop of the...
on 21 February 1987 on a farm in Vitry-aux-Loges
Vitry-aux-Loges
Vitry-aux-Loges is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loiret department...
(Loiret
Loiret
Loiret is a department in north-central FranceThe department is named after the river Loiret, a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is located wholly within the department.- History :...
), she was sentenced in 1989 and 1994 to life in prison, with a minimum of 18 years. She was imprisoned at the Fleury-Mérogis Prison
Fleury-Mérogis Prison
Fleury-Mérogis Prison is a prison in France, located in the town of Fleury-Mérogis, in the southern suburbs of Paris. With 3,800 prisoners, it is the largest prison in Europe ...
in Essonne
Essonne
Essonne is a French department in the region of Île-de-France. It is named after the Essonne River.It was formed on 1 January 1968 when Seine-et-Oise was split into smaller departments.- History :...
until October 1999, when she was transferred with Nathalie Ménigon to the prison of Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
in Pas-de-Calais.
Release
After undergoing operations for a brain tumour, she was released on 16 June 2004 and her sentence suspended by the law of 4 March 2002 concerning the rights of patients.Documentary
In 2005, she appeared in the documentary Ni vieux, ni traîtres, directed by Pierre CarlesPierre Carles
Pierre Carles is a French documentarist, who has often been compared to Michael Moore for his use of the documentary form to denounce mainstream media, which he accuses of having conflicts of interest .-Filmography:...
and Georges Minangoy.