French Journalist to Appear in Court for Insulting Islam
A French journalist is facing a criminal trial for remarks he made in a radio interview against the influence of Islam in the country.
Ivan Rioufol of Le Figaro newspaper was summoned to court following a complaint from the group Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), the Daily Mail reported.
Rioufol’s comments from a Nov. 15, 2012, RTL radio program particularly objected to a CCIF poster, which showed pictures of Muslims under the slogan “We are the Nation,” the Daily Mail said. He said the idea of the poster went against France’s inclusive, secular republic.
“In seeking to undermine liberty of expression, a sacred principle of our civilization, the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) takes the risk of appearing like a menace to democracy,” said Rioufol at the time of his summons.
A spokesman for CCIF said it had a duty to challenge Islamophobia.
“Mr. Rioufol will in court seek to prove that his words were true — one of the defenses against defamation,” the spokesman said.
Source: Washington Times
Rioufol’s comments from a Nov. 15, 2012, RTL radio program particularly objected to a CCIF poster, which showed pictures of Muslims under the slogan “We are the Nation,” the Daily Mail said. He said the idea of the poster went against France’s inclusive, secular republic.
“In seeking to undermine liberty of expression, a sacred principle of our civilization, the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF) takes the risk of appearing like a menace to democracy,” said Rioufol at the time of his summons.
A spokesman for CCIF said it had a duty to challenge Islamophobia.
“Mr. Rioufol will in court seek to prove that his words were true — one of the defenses against defamation,” the spokesman said.
Source: Washington Times
