The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed on Thursday the acquittal pronounced at first instance in favor of Éric Zemmour tried for “disputing a crime against humanity” for having maintained that Marshal Pétain had “saved” French Jews during the Second World War. “The court confirms the decision of first instance”, indicated the president of the court of appeal. The former candidate for the presidency of the Republic was not present at the hearing but his lawyer, Me Olivier Pardo expressed his “tremendous satisfaction” after the court’s decision.
“It is freedom of expression that has won”, launches Zemmour
“This is a message to all those who want to launch infamous attacks, using the dramas of the Second World War for political purposes. It is freedom of expression that has won,” he told the leaving the courtroom. The court did not follow the requisitions of the Advocate General who, during the appeal trial in January, had demanded a penalty of 100 day-fines at 100 euros, i.e. a fine of 10,000 euros.
Éric Zemmour’s disputed remarks date back to October 14, 2019, during a debate, in the program “Face à l’info” of which he was the star columnist on CNews, with Bernard-Henri Lévy. “One day (…) you dared to say that Pétain had saved the French Jews. It’s a monstrosity, it’s revisionism”, was indignant “BHL”. “It’s once again the real, I’m sorry,” replied Éric Zemmour.
Fifteen lawsuits
During the trial at first instance, Éric Zemmour defended himself against any challenge to crimes against humanity and considered that the debate on the role of the Vichy regime (1940-1944) towards French Jewish citizens should be decided by the courts. historians and not by justice. In its judgment relaxing it, the court considered that Éric Zemmour’s contested remarks had been made “at the point of view during a debate on the war in Syria”.
The court had nevertheless recognized that his words contained “the denial of the participation (of Pétain) in the policy of extermination of the Jews carried out by the Nazi regime”. Éric Zemmour’s controversial outings have earned him around fifteen lawsuits, in particular for racial insult, incitement to hatred or contestation of crimes against humanity.
Zemmour already sentenced several times
Éric Zemmour has been convicted several times by criminal courts, the last time in January 2022 for “incitement to hatred and violence” and “public insults towards a group of people because of their origin” for remarks on unaccompanied migrant minors. He appealed against this judgment.
He was also definitively sentenced twice for “incitement to hatred”, for remarks made in 2010 and 2016.