French Islamologist François Burgat convicted on appeal for "apology of terrorism"

Islamologist François Burgat has been found guilty on appeal of "apology of terrorism" for online publications made in January 2024 concerning Hamas. The Aix-en-Provence court of appeal sentenced him to a 5,000-euro fine and a three-year ban from public office.

This conviction comes a year after Burgat, a former research director at France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), was acquitted of similar charges by a lower court. The appeal court found him guilty of publicly endorsing acts of terrorism through online communications. Burgat can still appeal to the Court of Cassation, but the court refused to add him to the national register of convicted terrorists.

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Infinitely more respect and consideration for the leaders of Hamas than for those of Israel

During the proceedings, Burgat had retweeted a Hamas statement responding to a New York Times article about sexual violence during the October 7 attacks. In another post, he stated he had "infinitely more respect and consideration" for Hamas leaders than for those of the State of Israel. However, the court upheld his acquittal on charges related to comments made in December 2024 about the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty.

Burgat was also ordered to pay 1,500 euros in damages to the organizations Licra, the European Jewish Organization, and Avocats Sans Frontières, with each also receiving 2,500 euros for legal costs. The conviction highlights the tensions and legal scrutiny surrounding public discourse in France following the Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

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We do not take into account enough the fact that words kill