French Culture Ministry Official Accused of Mass Drink Spiking to Humiliate Women

Hiyam Zarouri, now 35, was among nearly 200 women who have accused former French culture ministry official Christian Negre of spiking drinks with a diuretic to humiliate female job-seekers. Zarouri, then 25, said that during a meeting arranged through LinkedIn, Negre slipped the substance into her coffee, causing her to experience severe discomfort, including cold sweats, chills, hot flashes, and extreme pain while walking in high heels for over three hours in central Paris.

Zarouri and other victims say Negre would watch women writhe in pain, sometimes forcing them to relieve themselves in public. Unlike some other victims, Zarouri eventually demanded to return to the ministry to use the toilet. She later realized, after media reports on similar cases four years later, that she had been targeted deliberately.

Negre, a former human resources manager, was charged with administering a harmful substance without consent, sexual assault by abusing authority, and invasion of privacy. Investigations revealed that between 2009 and 2018, he targeted 197 women, documenting their names and reactions in a spreadsheet, according to sources close to the case. Many victims, including Zarouri, criticize the slow pace of the investigation, expressing concern that Negre—still allowed to work under judicial control—could target others.

Negre admitted in 2018 to investigators that he had “imposed humiliating situations on women” during interviews, leading to his dismissal from the ministry in 2019. Reports indicate that he later worked under a pseudonym as a teacher at a business school in Normandy. His lawyer has declined to comment.

The case has drawn wider attention in France amid growing awareness of abuse through drugs, following other high-profile cases involving drug-facilitated sexual assault. Feminist groups, including the Women’s Foundation, emphasize that the diuretic cases are serious abuses of power, noting that victims’ experiences were meticulously recorded by Negre, reducing women to mere data points on a spreadsheet.

Investigators face challenges due to the high number of victims, administrative burdens, and limited resources, delaying the process. Each court clerk must notify victims of any updates via registered mail, and expert consultations further slow proceedings. Authorities plan to meet complainants early next year to provide updates, though organizing a criminal trial will take additional time.

An administrative court ruling in 2023 awarded one victim €12,000 ($14,000) after finding the French state guilty of failing to protect her and six other women. The case underscores ongoing concerns about workplace abuse and the need for timely justice for victims.