The European Court of Human Rights condemned France for an excessively heavy sentence pronounced against Jean-Marc Rouillan. The co-founder of the armed group Direct Action had made, according to French justice, the apology of the terrorists of the attack of Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher in January 2015.
“ I found them very brave, they fought bravely “. It is with these words that Jean-Marc Rouillan described the January 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and Montrouge. The co-founder of Direct Action responded in an interview given in 2016.
These remarks earned him to be prosecuted for apologizing for terrorism. Sentenced to 18 months in prison including 8 firmhe was able to serve his sentence at home but according to the ECHR, this sentence is disproportionate.
The European Court of Human Rights does not challenge the conviction itself, which it considers relevant, but it considers at the same time that the prison sentence is too heavy. ” Where freedom of expression is at stake, authorities must exercise restraint writes the court.
In this case, that was not the case. Paris violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. A finding that should be enough to satisfy Jean-Marc Rouillan concludes the court, which therefore does not condemn France to a fine. She only has to pay him 15,000 euros to cover his legal costs.