French activist to face trial for pro-Palestine rally speech calling for Intifada
Paris (Quds News Network)- Elias d’Imzalène, a French pro-Palestinian activist, will appear before a Paris court on October 23, 2024, accused of incitement to hatred and violence for using the term “intifada” (uprising) during a Gaza solidarity rally. His remarks at the September 8 demonstration triggered an investigation after former French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin filed a complaint, claiming public incitement to violence.
During the rally, d’Imzalène called for an intifada in Paris and criticized US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron for supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. He was arrested on September 24 after voluntarily attending a police interview, detained for 48 hours, and released under judicial supervision.
His arrest sparked protests outside the police station, with supporters accusing authorities of trying to silence opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza. MP Ersilia Soudais defended d’Imzalène, accusing the French government of hypocrisy and Islamophobia. Advocacy groups like CAGE condemned the arrest, citing double standards in France’s treatment of Muslim activists compared to satirical attacks on Muslims in publications like Charlie Hebdo.
D’Imzalène, known for founding the website “Islam et Info,” is seen by his supporters as a target of political repression due to his criticism of French policy towards Israel. His trial comes amid rising international criticism of Israel’s practices in Gaza, adding fuel to the debate over free speech and activism in France.
‘Intifada’ is Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation and it literally means “shaking off”. The term has been a target of Israel, which repeatedly described it as ‘antisemitic’.
