France: Pro-Palestine activist to be tried for incitement following call for 'intifada in Paris'

A prominent French pro-Palestine activist will be tried before Paris’s criminal court on 23 October for public incitement to hatred following his call for an "intifada in Paris".

Imzalène was placed under judicial supervision on Thursday and will be tried for “public incitement to hatred or violence based on origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion" following comments he made at a pro-Palestine demonstration in the French capital on 8 September.

Elias d’Imzalène was placed in custody on Tuesday morning for acts described as "incitement to commit crimes".

During the event held in Paris, Imzalene asked the crowd: "Are we ready to lead the intifada in Paris? In our suburbs? In our neighbourhoods?

"The path to liberation… starts in Paris," he added. "Soon, Jerusalem will be liberated and we will be able to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Imzalene went on to accuse US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of complicity in Israel's war on Gaza.

"The genocide has accomplices. They are called Biden, they are called Macron, Macron the election thief, right? We know the thieves, who live in the Elysee and Matignon [the residences of the French president and prime minister].

The investigation, which was opened following a report by then Interior Minister Gerald Darman, will be conducted by the Brigade for Repression of Crimes Against the Person (BRDP).

It focuses on several offences including incitement to hatred or violence against a person or group of persons on the grounds of their origin, nation, race or specific religion; aggravated public incitement to commit intentional attacks on life or physical integrity; public incitement to commit crimes or offences that undermine the fundamental interests of the nation.