French prosecutors have requested a 10-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year ban on holding public office for French-Palestinian European Parliament member Rima Hassan, in a case that has raised questions over the boundaries of political expression and Palestine solidarity in France.
The demands were made on the 20th of October, the second day of Hassan’s trial in Paris, where she faces charges of “glorification of terrorism” over a social media post published on X on 26 March and later deleted. The post quoted Kozo Okamoto, a member of the Japanese Red Army who participated in the 1972 attack at Lod Airport near Tel Aviv.
Prosecutors argued that Hassan’s post “trivialized” the attack and “praised its perpetrator”. They rejected her claim that the proceedings were politically motivated, describing the alleged offence as clear-cut and insisting the case was based on the content of the post rather than her political views.
Hassan, a member of the left-wing France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) party, has described the prosecution as an attempt to intimidate her and silence an opposition lawmaker. Her lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, also challenged the handling of the case and raised concerns about alleged leaks to the media surrounding earlier police proceedings.
The potential political ban carries significant consequences beyond the suspended sentence. If imposed, it could prevent Hassan from holding elected office for two years, restricting her ability to continue her work as a Member of the European Parliament. The prosecution’s request is not a final judgment, and the court has not yet ruled on the case.
Hassan’s trial comes amid wider tensions in France over expressions of support for Palestinians and the distinction between political advocacy and offences relating to terrorism. The case has become a flashpoint in the debate over how French authorities apply laws against the glorification of terrorism when political speech concerns Palestinian resistance and the history of armed groups.
The court is expected to deliver its verdict on 30 November. Until then, Hassan remains accused rather than convicted of the offence.
