French Activist Known as 'Monk of Lützerath' Fined for Assaulting Police

The 29-year-old climate activist received a €4,200 fine after admitting to pushing officers into the mud during a 2023 protest at the Garzweiler coal mine.

The activist, dressed as a monk, became widely known after a viral video showed him pushing police officers into the mud during a large climate protest in Lützerath in January 2023.
He was convicted of assaulting law enforcement and causing bodily harm but avoided jail time, receiving a €4,200 fine instead.
The court acknowledged his confession, which played a significant role in the sentencing, as the evidence alone might not have secured a conviction.
The protest at the Garzweiler coal mine drew tens of thousands of demonstrators, with activists opposing the planned demolition of Lützerath for coal mining.
The activist has a prior conviction related to the 2017 G-20 protests in Hamburg and continued to express his commitment to climate activism during the trial.