Rima Hassan Charged With Glorifying Terrorism Over Social Media Post
French police detained European Parliament member Rima Hassan on Thursday on charges of glorifying terrorism. The charges stem from a social media post where she quoted someone involved in a 1972 attack on an Israeli airport.
French police detained European Parliament member Rima Hassan on Thursday on charges of glorifying terrorism over a social media post.
The charges relate to a post where Hassan quoted a former member of the Japanese Red Army who participated in a 1972 massacre at an Israeli airport. Hassan is the first French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, elected in 2024.
At a press conference at her lawyer's office, Hassan called the charges "genuine judicial and political harassment." She said the case targets her "solely because of my political views."
Hassan is known as a vocal critic of Israel's policies. The case highlights growing tensions in France over how officials discuss Middle East conflicts on social media.
France has strict laws against glorifying terrorism, which can include sharing content that appears to praise or encourage terrorist acts. The laws have been used increasingly to prosecute social media posts.
This case shows how European officials who criticize Israel can face criminal charges for their online posts. It raises questions about free speech limits for elected officials and could affect how politicians discuss controversial topics on social media.
Hassan's case will proceed through French courts. Watch for her legal team's response and any reaction from the European Parliament.
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