Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sports

Algerian footballer on trial in France over Gaza post

Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France Monday accused of inciting hatred.

His club suspended Atal until further notice after his post
His club suspended Atal until further notice after his post - Copyright AFP UWE KRAFT
His club suspended Atal until further notice after his post - Copyright AFP UWE KRAFT

Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France Monday accused of inciting hatred after posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatens Israel with a “black day”.

Atal, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, shared the video on his Instagram account, which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7 in which 1,139 people were killed.

In an extract of the footage seen by AFP, the preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, at first talked about the plight of children in Gaza.

Prosecutors said they also identified another extract in which he called on God to “send the Jews a black day”, and “steady the hands” of Gaza inhabitants if they should “throw stones”.

The 27-year old defender, who quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, was suspended by his club while prosecutors probed the incident for suspected “justification of terrorism”.

But they dropped that line of investigation after watching the video and questioning the player, instead charging him with “incitement to religious hatred”.

Two associations, the International League against Racism and anti-Semitism (Licra) and the Jewish Observatory of France, have brought civil actions against the player.

If found guilty, Atal could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined 45,000 euros ($49,000).

He has been under judicial supervision with a ban on travelling abroad except to play professional football.

His club quickly suspended him “until further notice” after the post, while the professional football league banned him for seven matches.

Some of Atal’s Algerian team mates argued for leniency, saying he had apologised and not actually watched the video until the end before posting it.

The deadliest ever Gaza war began with unprecedented attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7, when the group killed 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250, according to updated Israeli figures.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said some 19,000 people have been killed in Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Tech & Science

Financial AI could be used for something other than destroying the world.  

Business

Asian markets stumbled out of the gates Monday, extending last week's grim start to the year.

Business

Vinfast is looking to expand overseas but has had a rocky start - Copyright AFP Patrick T. FALLONVietnamese carmaker VinFast said it will build...

World

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken was due in Israel on Monday for difficult talks on the war in Gaza.