Overview

• Sofia Benlemmane, a 54-year-old Franco-Algerian influencer, is on trial in Lyon for hate speech and death threats on social media targeting opponents of the Algerian government.
• Prosecutors have requested a one-year suspended prison sentence, 240 hours of community service, and a six-month ban from digital platforms.
• The charges include public provocation to violence, death threats, and hate speech against France and the Jewish community, which Benlemmane partially acknowledges but attempts to minimize.
• Her lawyer argues that her statements were misinterpreted or mistranslated, maintaining that her actions fall under freedom of expression.
• The case highlights broader concerns about online hate speech, the responsibilities of influencers, and the diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.