Overview
- Sofia Benlemmane, a 54-year-old Franco-Algerian influencer, was convicted in Lyon for making explicit death threats against opponents of the Algerian regime on social media.
- The court sentenced her to nine months of suspended imprisonment, citing the severity of her hate-filled remarks, including direct calls for violence.
- Benlemmane, previously convicted in 2001 for a politically motivated act involving the Algerian flag, claimed her statements were impulsive and not intended as actionable threats.
- Her conviction follows the arrests of several Algerian influencers in January 2025, as French authorities crack down on online hate speech and incitement.
- The case unfolds during heightened diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria, further strained by recent expulsions of consular officials and related incidents.