Overview

• Smaïn Bendjilali was convicted May 30 by Marseille’s correctional court for republishing a July 2024 social media video that framed the October 7 Hamas assault as legitimate defense.
• The court handed him a six-month prison term with suspension, imposed a €2,000 fine and barred him from voting and other civic activities for five years.
• Judges acquitted him on a separate charge tied to reposting a video accusing Israeli soldiers of torturing a Palestinian.
• His mosque, the Mosquée des Bleuets, previously faced closure threats and is cited in a government report on the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Despite the ruling, Bendjilali plans to resume his imam duties this week and his lawyer has indicated an appeal may follow.