French Justice Awakens: Crackdown on Far-Right Figures Exposes Deep-Rooted Islamophobia

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Court Convicts Right-Wing Extremist for Anti-Muslim Hate Speech as Legal Pressure Mounts on Ultra-Nationalists

Algiers, Algeria | February 13th, 2025 — After months of judicial dormancy, the French justice system has reawakened with decisive rulings against the far-right ecosystem, whose relentless incitement threatens social harmony in France. With an entrenched media campaign targeting French citizens of non-European descent—particularly the Muslim community, and in many cases, the Algerian diaspora—the courts have begun dismantling the scaffolding of far-right impunity.

Following a series of legal blows against prominent ultra-nationalist figures, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau’s failed bid to deport Algerian influencer Boualem, France’s judiciary has now issued a landmark ruling against another far-right agitator. The Paris court has convicted Claude Askolovitch, a well-known media personality with deep ties to France’s extremist right-wing circles, for Islamophobic remarks aired on the notoriously reactionary CNews channel in 2022. The verdict, which fined him €1,000 with a suspended sentence, sets a crucial precedent in the fight against hate speech, particularly as another notorious far-right figure, Robert Ménard—mayor of Béziers and a former figurehead of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (formerly the National Front)—awaits trial for unlawfully expelling an Algerian national to prevent his marriage to a French citizen.

Legal Reckoning for Hate Speech and Discrimination

Askolovitch, who once held influential positions as chairman of Olympique de Marseille and director of the hard-right news channel LCI, was found guilty of publicly defaming and denigrating Muslims. His inflammatory rhetoric, broadcast in a segment titled “Youth Violence: How Do We Stop It?”, explicitly portrayed Muslims as inherently incapable of integrating into the French Republic. “Muslims don’t care about the Republic. They don’t even understand what it means,” he asserted, igniting national controversy over the normalization of xenophobia in mainstream media.

The court classified his remarks as “public insults directed at a group based on their origin, ethnicity, or religion,” reinforcing legal protections against racial and religious vilification. Moreover, in an unambiguous rebuke, the ruling ordered Askolovitch to compensate the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (€1,000 for damages and an additional €1,000 in legal fees).

While the penalty itself is mild, the conviction delivers a stark message: unchecked far-right propaganda will no longer escape judicial scrutiny. However, this ruling does little to stem the tide of extremist narratives spewing daily from media outlets like CNews—a network infamous for its unabashed hostility towards Algeria, Muslims, and migrants, and its unwavering support for Zionist atrocities against Palestinians.

The Looming Trial of Robert Ménard: A Test for French Justice

As the legal noose tightens around extremist figures, attention now shifts to Robert Ménard’s upcoming trial on February 18 in Montpellier. The firebrand mayor of Béziers, known for his staunch anti-immigration stance, is facing serious legal consequences for forcibly expelling an Algerian national, Mustafa, to block his marriage to a French woman, Eva, in the summer of 2023. This blatant overreach, executed without legal justification, exemplifies the far-right’s crusade against racial and religious minorities under the guise of nationalist rhetoric.

Ménard’s fate will serve as a litmus test for the judiciary’s resolve in upholding the rule of law against political actors weaponizing state power for ideological vendettas. His trial comes amid growing concern over the erosion of civil liberties, as France grapples with an increasingly emboldened far-right movement that thrives on scapegoating minorities.

A Defining Moment in France’s Struggle Against Extremism

The conviction of Claude Askolovitch, coupled with the impending trial of Ménard, signals an inflection point in France’s battle against institutionalized bigotry. Yet, the systemic nature of far-right influence—permeating politics, media, and public discourse—suggests that judicial rulings alone will not dismantle the deeply entrenched mechanisms of hate. With extremist rhetoric escalating in mainstream platforms and government officials pandering to nationalist sentiment, the onus falls on civil society and legal institutions to maintain pressure and safeguard France’s foundational principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

As the far-right’s grip tightens, France faces a pivotal question: will justice continue its resurgence, or will it once again lapse into silence, allowing intolerance to fester unchecked?

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