The president of the NGO Baraka City, Driss Yemmou, arrested Wednesday as part of an investigation for harassment on social networks, was placed on Thursday under judicial supervision awaiting trial, announced the Evry prosecutor's office.
He was summoned on December 4 before the criminal court for "
harassment by means of a digital or electronic medium having resulted in an ITT of more than eight days
", indicates the prosecution in a press release.
At the end of his police custody, he was presented to a judge of freedoms and detention who placed him under judicial control with in particular a ban on coming into contact with his alleged victim, it was specified. from the same source.
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The arrest of the president of this Muslim charity, as popular as it is controversial, followed a complaint filed on September 18 by a columnist for RMC radio who reported "
120 defamatory tweets
" published by Mr. Yemmou.
The complaint also aimed at the creation, by the founder of the NGO, "
of a hashtag denouncing his person, included in nearly 1,500 tweets
" as well as the publication of a "
photograph of a registered mail stolen from his mailbox. letters
”, according to the prosecution.
But the charge of "the
flight of correspondence with degradation
" was not retained at this stage against Mr. Yemmou.
His lawyer Samim Bolaky told AFP that his client was "
extremely relieved
" at this release under judicial supervision.
However, he specified that he “
castigates (d) the means used by the Raid during his arrest
” at his home and denounced “
illegitimate violence
”.
"
He and his wife were severely injured: contusions, skin scratches, psychological shock
", in addition to "
material damage
" suffered at their home, according to him.
Read also: The founder of the NGO Baraka City in custody for harassment on Twitter
Mr. Yemmou and his wife intend to file "
in the coming days
" complaints for "
aggravated willful violence committed by persons holding public authority,
" he said.
Me Bolaky also qualified his client as a "
whistleblower
".
“
The question is: can a freelance journalist ask questions of a public figure who is duplicating his speech in public and his actions in private?
It is the freedom of the press which is in question
, according to the lawyer.
Founded by Muslims with a Salafist profile, Baraka City organizes donation campaigns, especially during Ramadan and via social networks, which drain several million euros to finance humanitarian projects.
The NGO, whose Facebook account is followed by more than 715,000 people, has aroused strong enthusiasm among many young believers but also suspicion for its sometimes radical positions.
