French justice had condemned the essayist and journalist for provoking discrimination and religious hatred towards the Muslim community, after remarks made on France 5 in 2016.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday dismissed the former 2022 presidential candidate Éric Zemmour and validated his conviction by French justice for provoking discrimination and religious hatred towards the Muslim community, after remarks made on France 5 in 2016.
“The Court considers that the interference with the applicant’s exercise of his right to freedom of expression was necessary in a democratic society in order to protect the rights of others“, explains the ECHR. The latter considers that the French courts have therefore not violated the freedom of expression of the candidate in the last presidential election.
The essayist and former journalist of Figaro made these remarks on September 16, 2016, in the program “It’s up to youbroadcast live at 7 p.m. on France 5 as part of the promotion of his book entitled A five-year term for nothing. In particular, he felt that Muslims should be given “the choice between Islam and France“and that France lived”for 30 years an invasion“, asserting that”in countless French suburbs where many young girls are veiled“was played a”struggle to Islamize a territory», «a jihad“.
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He had been sentenced at first instance by the Paris Criminal Court to a fine of 5,000 euros for “incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence against a group of people on the basis of their origin or their affiliation to a religion“. The sentence was reduced to 3000 euros on appeal. The Court of Cassation then dismissed his appeal.
The ECHR, the judicial arm of the Council of Europe,considers that these remarks were not limited to a criticism of Islam but contained, given the context of terrorist attacks in which they were made, a discriminatory intent such as to call on listeners to reject and exclude the muslim community“.
“In view of the State’s margin of appreciation in the present case, and of the applicant’s order to pay a fine of 3,000 euros, which is not excessive, the Court is convinced that the contentious interference (in Éric Zemmour’s right to freedom of expression, editor’s note) was proportionate to the aim pursued“, Estimated the court based in Strasbourg.
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