Action Group – Paris
French authorities released Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian-Syrian origin, on Thursday evening after detaining her for several hours in Paris police custody. Her detention stemmed from an investigation into charges of “glorifying terrorism,” according to French media reports.
Sources indicated that Hassan was questioned in connection with a previous post she made on the “X” platform. She was released the same day but given a summons to appear before a criminal court on July 7, 2026.
According to a statement from the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, Hassan is accused of “publicly glorifying terrorist acts” via a public online platform, an offense punishable under French law by up to seven years in prison and a fine of €100,000.
In a related development, the European Parliamentarian denied allegations that she possessed narcotics during her appearance before the investigation, asserting in a post on the “X” platform that these claims were “false” and “illegal leaks.” She clarified that the substance she possessed was CBD, a legal substance in France used for medical purposes in certain cases. Her lawyer also considered the incident to be a malicious leak.
According to reports, the investigation stemmed from a post in which Hassan referred to Kozo Okamoto, a former member of the Japanese Red Army, who was accused of participating in the 1972 Lod Airport attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. Reports indicate that the post was later deleted.
For its part, the European Jewish Observatory announced that it had filed a complaint against Hassan on March 26, 2026, regarding this post, which contributed to the initiation of the investigation.
In a political response, Hassan’s left-wing party, La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), stated that the parliamentarian “has always cooperated with the judiciary,” considering the case a “new escalation” against voices defending Palestinian rights.
This case is the latest in a series of legal proceedings against Hassan for posts deemed controversial, amidst a growing debate in France about the limits of freedom of expression, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue.