World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Rima Hassan exercises right to silence at Paris terrorism-apology trial
French-Palestinian European lawmaker Rima Hassan went on trial in Paris on Monday, accused of glorifying terrorism.
The case concerns a post on her X account quoting Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese man who took part in a 1972 attack at Tel Aviv airport.
Hassan chose to remain silent after telling the court she saw the case as an attempt to intimidate and silence an opposition lawmaker.
She said she rejects celebrating the deaths of civilians, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
The charge has prompted a dispute over whether the case can proceed despite her claim to parliamentary immunity.
The first day was tense, with arguments over procedure, accusations and interruptions in court.
The trial is scheduled to last two days, with several organizations and victims’ representatives taking part as civil parties.
European Parliament member Rima Hassan exercised her right to silence on 19 October at her trial in Paris for alleged apology for terrorism.
The case concerns a social media post quoting Kozo Okamoto, one of the perpetrators of the 1972 attack at Tel Aviv airport.
Hassan called the proceedings an attempt to intimidate and silence an opposition lawmaker.
She said she would continue to oppose rejoicing in the deaths of Israeli or Palestinian civilians.
The first day of the trial was tense, with disputes over procedure and interruptions in court.
- Who
- Rima Hassan, a European Parliament member and La France insoumise politician, is on trial.
- What
- She is accused of apology for terrorism over a social media post and exercised her right to silence.
- When
- The trial began on 19 October 2026.
- Where
- The Paris judicial court in Paris, France.
- Why
- The case concerns a post quoting Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese participant in the Palestinian cause and a perpetrator of the 1972 attack at Tel Aviv airport.
Rima Hassan and her lawyer
Civil parties and their lawyers
Proceedings
Rima Hassan and her lawyer
Hassan said the case was an attempt to intimidate and silence an opposition lawmaker; her lawyer challenged the procedure and the neutrality of civil parties.
Civil parties and their lawyers
The civil parties pursued the case, and an Observatory of Judaism in France lawyer said the post praised a terrorist.
Social media post
Rima Hassan and her lawyer
Hassan said it was unacceptable to rejoice in the deaths of Israeli or Palestinian civilians.
Civil parties and their lawyers
The Observatory of Judaism in France lawyer described the post as praise for a terrorist.
Hassan posted a social media message quoting Kozo Okamoto.
Hassan's trial began in Paris, and she exercised her right to silence.
- Defendant
- Rima Hassan
- Trial date
- 19 October 2026
- Court location
- Paris, France
- Charge
- Apology for terrorism
- Post date
- 26 March
- Post subject
- Quote attributed to Kozo Okamoto, linked to the 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack
3 sources
«Accusations d’antisémitisme», invectives, suspensions d’audience… Première journée mouvementée au procès de Rima Hassan pour apologie du terrorisme
Jugée pour apologie du terrorisme, Rima Hassan dénonce une "tentative d'intimidation" avant d'excercer son droit au silence
"Je suis ciblée par une tentative d’intimidation" : jugée pour apologie du terrorisme, Rima Hassan se mure dans le silence
What people are saying
I exercise my right to silence, but this is not a refusal to explain.
I am being targeted by an attempt to intimidate and silence an opposition lawmaker.
Rima Hassan's tweet is the first by a leading political figure to praise a terrorist to this extent since the November 2015 attacks.