French Prosecutors Seek Suspended Prison Sentence for MEP Rima Hassan
French prosecutors seek a suspended prison sentence and a public office ban for MEP Rima Hassan over social media posts glorifying a 1972 Lod Airport massacre terrorist.
French prosecutors have requested a 10-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year ban on holding public office for European Parliament member Rima Hassan. The prominent politician faces charges of glorifying terrorism following a controversial social media post.
Charges and Controversial Statements
The prosecution stems from a March 26 post on the platform X, where Hassan quoted Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese militant involved in the 1972 Lod Airport massacre that claimed 24 lives. Hassan wrote: "I dedicated my youth to Palestine. As long as oppression exists, resistance is not only a right, but a duty." Although the tweet was later deleted, it sparked immediate outrage.
According to reports from Le Parisien, synthetic drugs were also found in her possession during a related police intervention, adding preliminary suspicions of drug transportation and use. This is not Hassan's first brush with legal trouble regarding her public statements. In December 2024, a complaint was filed against her after she suggested that French-Palestinians should be allowed to join armed Palestinian factions if French-Israeli dual nationals are permitted to serve in the Israeli military.
Institutional Backing and Regional Actions
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has stated that she views the accusations against Hassan with extreme gravity. Hassan, who represents France in the European Parliament and is known for her fierce opposition to Israel, has been denied entry into the country on three separate occasions throughout 2025.
"As long as oppression exists, resistance is not only a right, but a duty," Hassan quoted in the deleted post regarding the Lod Airport attacker.
Her repeated attempts to enter the region included arriving with an EU delegation in February 2025, followed by participation in maritime flotillas targeting the Gaza Strip in June and October. Israeli authorities have repeatedly accused her of conducting active campaigns in support of Hamas and promoting international boycotts against Israeli institutions and global brands such as Carrefour and Starbucks.
