La France insoumise MEP Rima Hassan held a press conference on April 3, denouncing 'judicial political harassment' following her April 2 custody in Paris for suspected apology of terrorism over a March 26 X post. Substances including legal CBD and synthetic drug 3MMC were found in her bag; she faces trial on July 7.
Following her custody lifted late on April 2 at the Paris 10th arrondissement police station—stemming from a deleted March 26 X post quoting Japanese Red Army member Kōzō Okamoto on Palestinian resistance—Rima Hassan, La France insoumise MEP, addressed supporters at a press conference on April 3 at Paris police judiciaire headquarters.
She described the custody as 'genuine judicial political harassment solely due to (her) political opinions,' particularly her advocacy for Palestine, adding that 'the timeline of this harassment dynamic started from my entry into politics' and decrying 'media harassment' as well.
Her lawyer, Me Vincent Brengarth, deemed the detention 'perfectly illegal,' a 'misuse of the flagrance procedure' to bypass parliamentary immunity. He argued the post was 'a simple quote' without apology, noted his client 'does not consume drugs,' and awaits analysis on the 3MMC. He also criticized breaches of investigation secrecy via press leaks, leading to a prosecutor's inquiry.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned 'political police' violating immunity, while Manon Aubry highlighted a 'strategy of judicial harassment' against Palestinian advocates. The case continues with a July 7 court date before the correctional tribunal; a separate narcotics probe is underway.
