We explain the (new) controversy targeting Rima Hassan, accused of having supported Hamas during a rally in Jordan

The MEP from La France Insoumise denounces “fake news”. While there were indeed pro-Hamas placards at a demonstration in Amman on Friday, she assures that the initial objective of the gathering was to support the Gazan population.

Rima Hassan, a Franco-Palestinian lawyer and LFI MEP, regularly targeted in recent months, is once again at the center of a controversy for her commitment to Palestine. The weekly The Point published an article on Friday, August 16, with an unequivocal title: “Rima Hassan unreservedly appears pro-Hamas in Jordan”in reference to an Instagram story she had posted the day before. “In the demonstration she is promoting that day, many of the placards held by the crowd pay tribute to Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas [tué le 31 juillet en Iran]“the article points out.

The political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement was killed in Tehran at the end of July in a strike blamed on Israel. The Point also mentions slogans chanted in an Instagram video posted by journalist and activist Taha Bouhafs, also present that day in Amman, the Jordanian capital: “The protesters chant ‘Labaika y a Aqsa’, which means: ‘We are coming, oh Aqsa’ (…) The two Frenchmen took part in a rally of extremists”the weekly newspaper decides, considering that Rima Hassan, an Arabic speaker, understood this context.

As early as Sunday, Renaissance MP Caroline Yadan expressed on X her desire to report the matter to the public prosecutor “incitement to racial hatred and apology for terrorism” as well as a “request for lifting of immunity and sanctions (…) from the European Parliament”. Former LR MP Meyer Habib, close to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahufollowed suit, announcing Tuesday on X that it had contacted the prosecutor, due to the participation of Rima Hassan “to a demonstration explicitly in support of the terrorist movement Hamas”.

“Fake news, I did not participate in a tribute to Hamas leaders”Rima Hassan defended herself on X on Tuesday. “To crudely use photos of a few protesters who were showing their support for Hamas and blame them on me is deeply dishonest.”she was indignant, denouncing “media harassment”.

“I am not responsible for who participates in the demonstration.”

Rima Hassan, LFI MEP

on the social network X

The Franco-Palestinian activist, traveling in Jordan, recalled the context of the gathering: “Since October [début de la guerre entre Israël et le Hamas], Every Friday there is a demonstration in support of Gaza because it is the day of rest”she explained, specifying that it was not “not the first Friday demonstration” in which she participates. “I was living in Amman before the elections [européennes] for my writing and photography project on the camps [de réfugiés palestiniens].“

A journalist from a Jordanian news agency confirmed to Parisian that “‘Solidarity’ demonstrations with the Palestinians had been held almost every Friday in Amman since the start of the war in Gaza”. Indeed, these demonstrations are frequent in this country neighboring Israel, which hosts the most Gazan refugees in the region: 2.4 million in total according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA). Palestinians also form 60 to 75% of the Jordanian population (whether they have citizenship or not), according to a publication by Roger Heacock, professor of history at Birzeit University, in the West Bank. Which explains the massive pro-Gaza mobilizations.

“This march has been taking place every Friday since October 7 in support of Gaza, near the mosque in the city center,” confirms Taha Bouhafs to franceinfo. “We participated in the march to show our solidarity with Gaza, and because we felt helpless in the face of what is happeningthe activist said. We participated spontaneously, without responding to a specific call and without having any knowledge of the organizers. We left after ten minutes.”

“The demonstration brought together people of all persuasions, even people with whom we did not agree. This controversy is instrumentalization.”

Taha Bouhafs, journalist and activist

to franceinfo

Other protesters did indeed brandish portraits of the former political leader of Hamas, which franceinfo was able to see on the video shared by Taha Bouhafs. Contacted, Rima Hassan did not respond to our requests.

At the end of April, the LFI MEP was summoned for “apology for terrorism” by the judicial police, because of an interview with the online media Le Crayon, since deleted. In a truncated extract, we can see the lawyer respond “TRUE” to the affirmation “Hamas is carrying out a legitimate action”. Another statement that sparked controversy: Rima Hassan had written “From the river to the sea. We want to free all Palestinians,” November 5th on X. An associated expression by some to the demand for a state where Palestinians could live in freedom, and by others to the destruction of Israel, as developed Release.

Finally, LR MEP François-Xavier Bellamy took legal action at the end of July for “threats” following another tweet from LFI MEP. “For the moment, François-Xavier Bellamy and his little friends, close to the Israeli genocidal regime, sleep well at night. It won’t last”Rima Hassan wrote on her X account on July 24. The lawyers of the rebellious MEP responded with two complaints for public defamation and slanderous denunciation.