Jonathan Cook, journalist
" This seems an extraordinary ruling by France's highest court, if we assume that France actually respects the principles of freedom of opinion and expression.
The court upheld the conviction of 12 activists for supporting a boycott of Israeli products at supermarkets, effectively ensuring the BDS movement remains illegal in France.
The activists had stood outside the supermarkets wearing T-shirts featuring the slogan "Long live Palestine, boycott Israel”. They had also handed out flyers saying: “Buying Israeli products means legitimizing crimes in Gaza.”
They were found guilty of promoting hatred and discrimination. The report notes that dozens of other activists have been similarly convicted in France's lower courts. They now have no hope of appeal.
Did I hear someone shout: "Je suis BDS!" "
France's Court of Cassation in Paris (CC BY-SA Daniel Vorndran/DXR/Wikimedia Commons)
