French court sentences pro-Palestine activist to three years in prison
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Amira Zaiter, a mother and a nursing student from Nice, France, was sentenced to three years in prison for denouncing the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
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Amira Zaiter, an activist from Nice, hugging her daughter after spending 46 days in detention (X)
A pro-Palestinian activist in France has been sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly "glorifying terrorism" on social media, according to broadcaster France 3.
Amira Zaiter, an activist from Nice, was arrested on September 19 for allegedly "promoting terrorism, glorifying crimes against humanity, and spreading hate speech online," as per the channel.
Zaiter, the founder of the "De Nice a Gaza" (From Nice to Gaza) organization, was handed a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended and one year served under an electronic bracelet.
Zaiter organized the first pro-Palestinian protests in Nice in October 2023, following the outset of the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
In a post on X, she expressed, "I want to thank everyone who has supported me during this challenging time, who sent me letters, and who have been providing me with financial assistance. Above all, I am a mother and a nursing student."
Je tiens à remercier toutes les personnes qui m’ont soutenue pendant cette période difficile, qui m’ont écrit des lettres et qui m’ont apporté et apporte un soutien financier.
— Amira Zaiter (@amirazait) November 6, 2024
Avant tout, je suis une mère et une étudiante infirmière.
In another post, she shared a video of herself hugging her daughter, reflecting on how after 46 days of arbitrary and unjust detention for denouncing the genocide and expressing her support for Palestine in Nice, she was finally reunited with her daughter.
46 jours après une détention arbitraire et injuste pour avoir dénoncé le génocide et exprimé mon soutien à la Palestine a Nice, je retrouve enfin ma fille. pic.twitter.com/Xmas9rLhk8
— Amira Zaiter (@amirazait) November 6, 2024
Not an isolated incident
In a related case, the Paris prosecutor’s office requested an eight-month suspended prison sentence last month for another pro-Palestinian activist, Elias d’Imzalene.
Imaginez 5 secondes que je scande ce slogan en parlant de la Palestine...
— Elias d'Imzalène (@imzalene) November 2, 2024
Je serais immédiatement poursuivi et arrêté.
Mais eux c'est bon ils sont de la bonne religion, de la bonne couleur.pic.twitter.com/XqwR6Z49oR
Elias was charged with alleged "public provocation to hatred or violence" after making comments during a rally in Paris, where he mentioned the term “Intifada".
He was arrested on September 24 for allegedly calling for an armed uprising at a September 8 demonstration.
French MP to propose bill banning 'Israel' criticism
A Zionist member of France's parliament proposed criminalizing all criticism of "Israel", which has provoked an outcry among activists and lawmakers.
Caroline Yadan, a member of the French National Assembly, will propose legislation that, among other things, prohibits "the denial of the State of Israel" and restricts free speech like using the phrase "from the river to the sea" during pro-Palestine rallies.
In a statement on X, European legislator Rima Hassan wrote that "Israel" "deserves criticism", because it has "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."
French poet and novelist Jean-Philippe Cazier called the effort a way to "suppress the freedom of thought, criticism, and writing," stating on X that Yadan is looking to "prevent condemnation of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.”
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, also remarked that if there is just one regime "that deserves criticism, it is Israel."
Hassan detailed how the Israeli occupation "violated all United Nations resolutions for decades and commits the most heinous international crimes."
Tensions between France and the Israeli occupation have been high after Emmanuel Macron repeatedly urged nations to halt weapon deliveries to "Israel" if those arms are utilized in Gaza and Lebanon. He also stated privately that Netanyahu should not "ignore United Nations decisions," because "his country was created by a U.N. decision," remarks that prompted outrage from Netanyahu.
