Paris: Pro-Palestinian activist Elias d’Imzalene, who received a five-month suspended prison sentence for using “intifada” during a rally in France, said he became aware that his case was politically motivated when he was questioned about his religious and political views during an interrogation.
According to Anadolu Agency, former Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin lodged a criminal complaint with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office on Sept. 10 against d’Imzalene, citing his use of “intifada” in a speech on the Gaza Strip during a protest on Sept. 8. Following the complaint, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation on charges of “incitement to hatred or violence.” As part of the inquiry, d’Imzalene was summoned for questioning on Sept. 24 and taken into custody on the same day.
After being held for 48 hours, he was released under judicial supervision. On Oct. 23, he appeared in court, facing charges of “public incitement to hatred or violence.” On Dec. 19, the court sentenced him to a five-month suspended prison term and ordered him to pay compensation to Jewish associations that had filed the complaint. “Intifada,” which translates to uprising, resistance, or rebellion in Arabic, is historically linked to Palestinian uprisings in 1987-1993 and 2000-2005.
D’Imzalene told Anadolu he had been peacefully expressing his concerns about the situation in Gaza when he used “intifada” during the protest. Emphasizing that the protest’s central message was “fair and lasting peace,” he asserted that there was no intent to incite violence. He argued that “intifada” had been misinterpreted and pointed out that the protest also included anti-colonial Jewish activists who opposed events in Gaza.
D’Imzalene claimed that “a plot has been devised against me from the very beginning,” explaining that local journalists initially focused on the case, which was later picked up by far-right groups. He noted that he became the target of a coordinated media campaign and faced an accelerated judicial process, with major French news outlets repeatedly bringing attention to the case.
‘I was summoned for interrogation by the police within three weeks and brought to court the following month. This is unprecedented. Normally, such trials take at least a year. In my case, I believe they sped things up to set an example.” He also revealed that during interrogation, prosecutors questioned him about his views on Palestine and France, as well as his religious and political beliefs.
D’Imzalene stated that he initially faced serious legal charges, including a possible 15-year prison sentence for allegedly undermining France’s fundamental interests, which was later reduced to a potential five-year term for “inciting violence.” He explained that most charges against him were dismissed, leaving only the accusation of “hate speech against a group.” However, he noted that the court never identified which specific group was being referenced.
He asserted that legal procedures were being bypassed to maintain pressure on individuals who advocate for justice and speak out against the situation in Gaza. D’Imzalene has appealed the court’s ruling, which also imposed a pound 10,000 ($10863) fine. He maintained that, despite efforts by the state and media, the court’s decision helped preserve his reputation.
“While I speak out against Islamophobia and the genocide in Gaza, some people on social media are inciting hatred and threatening to kill me,” he said. He accused the French government of being “complicit in genocide” by supplying weapons to Israel while simultaneously targeting those who oppose events in Gaza.