French Journalist Faces Possible Charges Over Secret Military Operation Exposé

Ariane Lavrilleux, who revealed abuses linked to a French-Egyptian intelligence mission, is accused of compromising national defense secrets.

Investigative journalist Ariane Lavrilleux is summoned to appear before a Paris judge on January 17, 2025, for potential indictment related to her reporting on 'Operation Sirli.'
The investigation stems from Disclose's 2021 revelations about a French intelligence mission in Egypt allegedly used to target and kill civilians.
Lavrilleux faces accusations of 'appropriation and disclosure of national defense secrets,' carrying potential penalties of up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.
Disclose and press freedom advocates have condemned the extensive surveillance of Lavrilleux by France's DGSI, including tracking her movements, geolocating her phone, and scrutinizing her financial records.
This case has reignited debates about press freedom in France, with calls to strengthen protections for journalistic sources against government overreach.