A sentence of 100 day-fine at 100 euros, or 10,000 euros. The far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour was sentenced on Monday, January 17, for “provoking racial hatred”, after his remarks on unaccompanied migrant minors in 2020 on CNews.
Absent for the judgment, as during the trial last November, the 63-year-old polemicist announced, via his lawyer, that he was going to appeal. Eric Zemmour is used to legal proceedings. Dor thirteen years, he has accumulated a dozen court cases. Some procedures are still in progress, others have resulted in final convictions, in particular for “incitement to racial hatred”, or in his release. Franceinfo recaps.
Sentenced for “incitement to racial hatred” and “incitement to religious hatred”
In February 2011, the Paris Criminal Court condemned Eric Zemmour in two proceedings for “incitement to racial hatred”. He receives a suspended fine of 2,000 euros. This condemnation follows, on the one hand, remarks made ln March 6, 2010, on the set of the Canal+ program “Salut les Terriens”. Eric Zemmour declares there about the facies checks : “But why are we checked 17 times? Why? Because most of the traffickers are black and Arab! That’s how it is, it’s a fact…” On the other hand, the same day, on France Ô, he explains that employers “have the right” to refuse Arabs or blacks. In both proceedings, the criminal court, however, releases Eric Zemmour the offense of “public defamation”, as explained at the time The World (paid article). The polemicist did not appeal.
In September 2019, he was this time sentenced to a fine of 3,000 euros. for “incitement to religious hatred” concerning remarks made on France 5, in “C à vous”. He asserted there, in September 2016, that France was undergoing “for thirty years an invasion”, with in some suburbs a “struggle to Islamize a territory”, and that should be given to Muslims “the choice between Islam and France”. After having seen his cassation appeal rejected, Eric Zemmour seized the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) in December 2019, believing that France was violating his freedom of expression. Under French law, however, his conviction is considered final.
Ongoing proceedings, in particular for “racist insult” or “disputing crimes against humanity”
The denunciation of the first name of Hapsatou Sy. Eric Zemmour is sued by the columnist Hapsatou Sy, whose first name he had qualified “insult to France” on the set of “Salut les Terriens”, in September 2018. The host, who left the Canal + group, filed a complaint for “racist insult”. The trial is expected to take place in September 2022.
Defense of Marshal Pétain. In 2019, charges were brought against him for “disputing crimes against humanity”, after his remarks on Marshal Pétain who, according to him, “Safe” French Jews during the Occupation. Eric Zemmour was released last February at first instance. However, the civil parties, including the Licra, have appealed this decision, and the hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 20.
Virulent remarks during the Convention of the right. In September 2019, during the Convention of the Right, oOrganized by relatives of former far-right MP Marion Maréchal, the polemicist delivers a virulent speech. He asserts, among other things, that “all our problems made worse by immigration are made worse by islam“, that one “reversal of colonization“ is underway to achieve a “extermination of the catholic heterosexual white man“. He is sentenced at first instance to a fine of 10,000 euros for “insult” and “incitement to hatred”, before being released by the Paris Court of Appeal last September. The general prosecutor’s office and the civil parties appealed to the Court of Cassation.
A diatribe against unaccompanied minors. On September 29, 2020, LDuring a debate in “Face à l’info” on CNews, Eric Zemmour had declared about unaccompanied minors: “They have nothing to do here, they are thieves, they are murderers, they are rapists (…).“ Following a trial that took place in November 2021, thehe Paris Criminal Court sentenced him, Monday, January 17, 2022, to a fine of 10,000 euros for “incitement to hatred”. However, the procedure is not over since the candidate’s lawyer immediately announced that he was going to appeal.
Accusations against Taha Bouhafs. In November 2020, the polemicist describes the journalist Taha Bouhafs as “Islamist militant” on CNews. He filed a complaint in February against Eric Zemmour and the channel for “public insult”. According to Arié Alimi, lawyer for Taha Bouhafs contacted by franceinfo, the investigation is underway.
Summoned to court for his campaign clip. Eric Zemmour is taken to court on Thursday January 27 before the Paris tribunal de grande instance for “copyright infringement”, learned franceinfo from the candidate’s lawyer. Several complainants accuse the polemicist of having used images that do not belong to him, and without authorization, in his candidacy announcement clip, broadcast on November 30, 2021.
Relaxed in several cases
Not all trials resulted in a conviction. Eric Zemmour avoided sanctions in several cases. From 2008, he is sued for “defamation” by the former president of the Representative Council of Black Associations (Cran), Patrick Lozès, before being released in July 2012. The decision was confirmed on appeal in June 2013.
Subsequently, in 2014, it was in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that Eric Zemmour declares that Muslims “have their Civil Code, it’s the Koran”, and that they “live among themselves, in the suburbs. The French were forced to leave.” He was convicted at first instance in 2015 for “incitement to hatred” against Muslims, before being finally released in November 2018 by the Paris Court of Appeal.
In September 2015, Eric Zemmour is also acquitted of prosecution for “incitement to racial hatred” after his remarks made in 2014 on “bands“foreigners “who rob, violate or rob“, on RTL. In June 2016, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the release.
Finally, in May 2016, still on RTL, Eric Zemmour accused Cécile Duflot of being behind the Mediapart revelations on the Denis Baupin affair. The polemicist evokes a “politician revenge” from the former minister. sued for defamation, he was finally released in February 2018, notes France Inter.