Free speech under attack: French parliament advances bill criminalizing speech on Israel
France is moving closer to passing legislation that would criminalize a broad range of speech involving the Israeli regime, with penalties of up to five years in prison.
The bill, set for its first reading in the National Assembly on April 16, has received support across the political spectrum, including the far right.
French MP Caroline Yadan, who represents the 8th constituency for French citizens abroad, is the main proponent of the legislation.
She is a prominent figure among lawmakers identifying as "unconditional" supporters of the regime and has made defending it central to her political agenda.
The proposed law introduces several new offences. It criminalizes denying the regime’s existence, while no equivalent law exists for France itself, and outlaws comparisons between the regime and Nazi Germany.
The bill also rules out, what it calls, "implicit" provocation, including certain critical language as a "terrorism-related" offence.
Under Article 1, individuals could face up to five years in prison and heavy fines for speech that the bill frames as a means of "justifying or reframing acts of terrorism" against the regime.
Former anti-terrorism judge Marc Trevidic warned, "I'd never seen anything like it, the notion of implicit incitement to terrorism. Do you realize what that means? Becoming a censor of other people's thoughts, trying to guess what a person really meant."
The bill expands the offence of "apology for terrorism" to include “minimizing or trivializing” retaliatory attacks against the regime, meaning that attempts to explain root causes or political context could be criminally liable.
The legislation also broadens laws on "crimes against humanity," explicitly stating that comparing the regime to Nazi Germany constitutes "outrageous trivialization” of the Holocaust.
Lawmakers behind the bill say such comparisons should be treated as a criminal offence, effectively limiting this form of political criticism.
Nearly 700,000 people have signed a petition urging lawmakers to block the measure, while protests have erupted nationwide over concerns the bill threatens free speech and legitimate political debate.
Demonstrators have carried banners stating, "Supporting Palestine is not a crime" and "Stop genocide in Gaza."
Iran restores key rail links after damage caused by US-Israeli assaults
US, Israel will retreat from region empty-handed: IRGC Quds Force chief
Hungary election: Netanyahu, Trump lose close ally in Europe as Orban defeated
Pope Leo pledges to continue to speak out against war after Trump attack
Iran-Pakistan transit corridor begins operations with first export shipment
French parliament advances bill criminalizing speech on Israel
Islamabad talks failed because US tried to win at table what it couldn't on battlefield: Ex-diplomat
Iran restores key rail links after damage caused by US-Israeli assaults
Iran warns any attack on its ports will make every Persian Gulf port insecure
‘Unhinged & unchristian’: Global outrage erupts after Trump attacks Pope, poses as Jesus
US-Israeli aggression: 960 people rescued alive from under rubble in Tehran
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
