The broadcast of a documentary on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, organized by the Culture Populaire association and scheduled for Friday January 26 in Nice, will ultimately not take place.
The prefect of Alpes-Maritimes published a press release to ban this retransmission, which has become a source of controversy in recent days.
“I have decided to ban the screening-debate of the documentary on General Soleimani scheduled for 01/26/24 due to the significant risk of disturbances to public order and comments of an anti-Semitic nature or constituting an apology for terrorism” , we can read on the prefecture's X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening.
I have decided to ban the screening-debate of the documentary on General Soleimani scheduled for 01/26/24 due to the significant risk of disturbances to public order and comments of an anti-Semitic nature or constituting an apology for terrorism.
pic.twitter.com/tPAPLOafbL
— Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes🇫🇷 (@prefet06) January 19, 2024
“In addition, the organizers and speakers of this screening are part of a trend that largely promotes conspiracy, conspiracy and anti-Zionist theories,” explains Hugues Moutouh, prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes.
“General Soleimani, hero and martyr of the resistance”
The documentary, entitled “General Soleimani, hero and martyr of the resistance”, was directed by Aïssa, member of the Palestine Resistance Axis.
As soon as the organization of a debate evening around this film was announced on January 26, the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi asked that this evening not take place.
“We are now deprived of the right to information and free expression.
Thank you in advance for your support,” reacted the Culture Populaire association after the prefect’s announcement.
An important and powerful man in the Iranian regime, Qassem Soleimani was killed in January 2020, during an American drone attack in Iraq.
He was considered a hero in the Middle East for his role in defeating the jihadist group Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
Western leaders saw him as a privileged mediator between Iran and groups like Hamas or Hezbollah.