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On February 23, 1898, esteemed author Emile Zola was incarcerated for penning his famous letter, J’accuse, which condemned the French government for its anti-Semitic actions and the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus. Dreyfus’s trial for treason ignited a significant political crisis in France, deeply polarising public sentiment. Ultimately, after a retrial, Dreyfus received a pardon, highlighting the intense controversy surrounding his case and the broader issues of justice and discrimination in society.