The polemicist Eric Zemmour, tried in Paris for “
contesting a crime against humanity
” after having maintained that Marshal Pétain had “
saved
” the French Jews, was released Thursday February 4.
To read also: Pétain "savior" of French Jews: 10,000 euros fine required against Eric Zemmour
Eric Zemmour, already convicted of inciting racial hatred at the end of September, had made these remarks on October 21, 2019 in front of Bernard-Henri Lévy on the
CNews
news channel of
which he is one of the pillars.
The 17th chamber of the Paris court explained the acquittal by remarks made "point
-blank during a debate on the war in Syria
".
While acknowledging however that they contain "
the negation of the participation (of Pétain) in the policy of extermination of the Jews carried out by the Nazi regime
".
The prosecution had requested, in December, a fine of 10,000 euros against the controversial polemicist.
"
It is with satisfaction that we take note of the court's decision which releases Eric Zemmour of the ignominy of the proceedings against him,
" said Olivier Pardo, who defends the
CNews
columnist
with Laurence Dauxin-Nedelec.
"
That those who instrumentalize the Shoah for low political settling of accounts dare to look themselves in the face
", they added.
"
We are extremely disappointed by the court's decision, we consider that the law has not been said,
" announced Stéphane Lilti, lawyer for the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF), who planned to appeal.
The latter formed a civil party alongside the association "
J'accuse
", Licra, SOS Racisme and the Movement against racism and for friendship between peoples (Mrap).
"
We will immediately appeal
", also affirmed Sabrina Goldman, lawyer of Licra, which denounces a judgment "
which recognizes the negationist character of the remarks
" and which is based on the context "
whereas it had confirmed, even aggravated, his words during his hearing
”.
"
I would like to repeat what I said, the figures speak for themselves: in France, 40% of foreign Jews who were exterminated and 90% of French Jews who survived
", argued the polemicist at the closed off.
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