Severe punishment for a French politician for hate speech against Islam and immigrants

The Court of Appeal in the French capital, Paris, issued a ruling against extremist French politician Eric Zemmour, to pay a fine of 15,000 euros, on charges of inciting discrimination, inciting hatred and racism.

The French judiciary imposed a fine on Eric Zemmour, due to a speech that exceeded the “permissible limits of freedom of expression” that he delivered against Islam and immigrants, during a political meeting in 2019.

Eric Zemmour described wearing the hijab as "the uniform of the occupation army" and described immigrants as "colonists."

The Court of Appeal ruled that Zammour's statements were "excessive, contemptuous and intended to incite fear."

The far-right politician will have to pay 1,000 euros in compensation and 2,000 euros in procedural costs to four anti-racism associations.

The Public Prosecution and anti-racism associations had formed a panel before the Court of Cassation, which, in February 2023, ordered a new trial for Zammour.

Paris renews its “clear and continued support” for the Moroccan proposal on the Western Sahara conflict

French Foreign Minister Stephane Ségornet renewed on Monday, following discussions with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, Paris' "clear and continued" support for the proposal presented by Morocco on Western Sahara.

“We know that it is an existential bet for Morocco,” Sigournet said in a press conference following discussions with Bourita, also announcing “Paris’ proposal to establish a partnership for the next thirty years with Morocco.”

He added: "Morocco can count on France's clear and continued support for its plan for autonomy, as we have said before and I will repeat it today, perhaps with greater force. The time has come for progress. I will see to that personally."

He also indicated that France wants to "keep pace with development" in the region, the majority of which is controlled by the Kingdom, "in support of Moroccan efforts" in this regard.

Sigournet arrived in Rabat on Sunday evening before being received by Bourita on Monday, in an effort to improve relations between the two countries after a series of diplomatic crises.

For his part, the Moroccan Foreign Minister stressed that "the Moroccan-French relationship must be renewed and developed according to the principles of mutual respect, ambition, coordination, and state-to-state relations."

While he confirmed that the two sides discussed preparations for a series of bilateral ministerial visits in the coming period.