French Prosecutor Seeks Jail Time for MEP Rima Hassan
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
French prosecutors are seeking a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year ban from public office for European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who is accused of glorifying terrorism. The charges stem from a social media post quoting a militant involved in the 1972 Lod Airport massacre. Hassan, a vocal critic of Israel, has been denied entry to Israel multiple times and faces other accusations including drug possession and supporting Hamas.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- French prosecutors seek 10-month suspended sentence for MEP Rima Hassan for glorifying terrorism.
- Hassan is accused of quoting a militant involved in the 1972 Lod Airport massacre.
- She faces additional charges for drug possession and prior accusations of supporting terrorism.
- Hassan, a critic of Israel, has been denied entry to Israel on three separate occasions.
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated the accusations against Hassan are taken very seriously.
French public prosecutors are seeking a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year ban from public office for Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament. Hassan is accused of "glorifying terrorism" following a March 26 post on X where she quoted Japanese militant Kozo Okamoto. Okamoto, who led the group responsible for the 1972 Lod Airport massacre, had stated, "I dedicated my youth to Palestine. As long as oppression exists, resistance is not only a right but a duty." Hassan's post was later deleted. Authorities also reportedly found synthetic drugs in her possession during her arrest, leading to further suspicions of drug use, transport, and possession.
This is not the first time Hassan has faced accusations of supporting terrorism. In December 2024, a complaint was filed against her for a text stating that if French-Israelis can serve in the Israeli military and hold dual citizenship, then French-Palestinians should be allowed to join the Palestinian armed resistance. Just two weeks prior to the current proceedings, Hassan was filmed knocking Israeli and EU flags to the floor during an exhibition commemorating the October 7th massacre. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated she views the accusations against Hassan "very seriously."
Hassan, who represents France in the European Parliament and is known for her strong anti-Israel stance, has been denied entry to Israel three times. Her first attempt in February 2025 saw her deported from Ben Gurion Airport upon arrival from Brussels. In June of the same year, she was arrested and deported after participating in a flotilla to Gaza. A third deportation occurred in October after she joined the "Sumud" flotilla.
Born in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria, Hassan identifies as Palestinian. Israel has accused her of campaigning in support of Hamas, calling for boycotts of companies operating in Israel, and promoting sanctions against the country. She has also accused Israel of apartheid and supported boycotts of Carrefour and Starbucks, alleging their involvement in the "genocide in Gaza."
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