The names of certain streets in the city of Poitiers (Vienna) have been replaced by those of Hamas leaders and in particular its founder. The case was taken to court for “apology of terrorism”.
The names of certain streets in downtown Poitiers were covered by those of Palestinian activists… And Hamas leaders, this Thursday, October 24. A discovery taken very seriously by the Vienne prefecture which referred the matter to the Poitiers public prosecutor for “apology of terrorism”, in application of article 40 of the code of criminal procedure.
This action was relayed on social networks and in particular on X (formerly Twitter) by the Young Communist Movement of France 86 (MJCF). Entitled “The streets of resistance”, it sparked “strong reactions”, according to the prefecture. Among the names appearing on the collages, appeared in particular that of Ahmed Yassine, founder of Hamas, as specified by the prefect of Vienna on been aware of this specific case (concerning the name of Ahmed Yassine): “We knew nothing about it at the time of relaying this action”, affirms the MJCF.
“Replacing street names with names of Palestinian resistance fighters”
“This collage consisted of replacing street names in downtown Poitiers with names of Palestinian resistance fighters, notably on the occasion of the national demonstration in Lannemezan for the release of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah this Saturday, October 26” , indicates the MJCF86 in a press release. The young communists of France claim to have “never supported the abuses of Hamas and this action is no exception.”
Among the names pasted were Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, “political prisoner imprisoned in France for more than forty years, Nayef Hawatmeh, founder of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Yaser Arafat, founder of Fatah and former president of the authority Palestinian”, we can read in the MJCF86 press release. As a reminder, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was sentenced in France to life imprisonment in 1897 for complicity in the assassination of American and Israeli diplomats.
The decision of the Vienne prefecture to quickly take legal action was obviously not received in the best way by the Young Communist Movement of France. The latter believe “that in seizing the public prosecutor barely half an hour after said publication (…) the Vienne prefecture continues its policy of double standards: unwavering support for Israel and constant repression of activists committed to liberation of the Palestinians.