State Repression in France: Olivia Zemor Sentenced to Two-Year Prison Term for Solidarity with Palestine - Left Voice
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A Paris Judicial Court sentenced Olivia Zemor, president of Europalestine, to a 24-month suspended prison sentence for her support of Palestine. In the face of the repressive crackdown targeting Europalestine and supporters of Palestine, there is an urgent need to mobilize and build a broad front.

On Thursday, March 26, the Paris Court of Justice handed down its ruling in the case against Olivia Zemor, president of Europalestine, who was prosecuted for “apology for terrorism” due to her support for the Palestinian people. The verdict is shockingly harsh: a 24-month prison sentence with probation, registration in the national database of terrorist offenders, 3,000 euros in damages, 2,000 euros in legal fees, and a five-year ban on holding public office.

As soon as she left the courthouse, she denounced the severity of the sentence and announced she would appeal the decision, which marks a significant escalation in the repression of those who have denounced the genocide of the Palestinian people: “This decision adds another layer to the already very serious charges brought by the prosecutor.” For several months now, the Europalestine association has been the target of a brutal crackdown by the government. Just a few days ago, its vice president, 77-year-old Nicolas Shahshahani, had his home raided and was forcefully arrested as part of a new investigation into “apology for terrorism.”

Far from being intimidated, Olivia Zemor calls for continued mobilization:

Israel’s actions continue in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and the West Bank, and the government [of France] has been collaborating with those responsible since the start of this genocide. They will not stop us from supporting the people fighting against Israeli colonization. They will not intimidate us. We have been fighting for the Palestinian cause for 24 years, and we will not stop.

It is essential to stand united against the criminalization of Palestine supporters. As the French government seeks to use the case of Olivia Zemor as an example of repression to terrorize the solidarity movement with Gaza, we must organize a united front in solidarity with those being repressed and against the ongoing genocide. This Saturday, we will turn out in large numbers in Paris and across France to demonstrate for Palestine, demand an end to the genocide in Palestine and the imperialist war in the Middle East, and call for the dropping of charges against Europalestine activists and supporters of the Palestinian cause.

Originally published in Révolution Permanente on March 26

Translated and adapted for Left Voice by Adrien Massonh

The post State Repression in France: Olivia Zemor Sentenced to Two-Year Prison Term for Solidarity with Palestine appeared first on Left Voice.

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