French police 'unlawfully' fine journalists while covering pro-Palestine gathering in Paris

By Anadolu Staff

PARIS (AA) – A group of journalists were "unlawfully" fined by French police while covering a pro-Palestine protest in Paris on Wednesday afternoon.

The unprecedented fining of journalists occurred at the central Place de la Republique (Republic Square), where dozens of protesters gathered in solidarity with Palestine, a day after an Israeli airstrike killed more than 470 people in Gaza.

A journalist who was fined €135 ($143) told Anadolu that he was fined despite showing his press card, issued by the French Culture Ministry, which would under normal conditions allow any bearer to work freely to cover any public event.

“I showed my press card, but the officer told me that he does not care about it and needs only my ID, accusing me of participating in a prohibited demonstration,” the journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of further police persecution, told Anadolu.

He said: “Even though I explained the reason that I was there to cover the event and not to participate in it, he started filling in information from my ID and told me that I had to pay a fine of 135 euros, advising me that the same time not to come to any future gatherings otherwise I would pay the same amount of money again. This is an unlawful fine.”

On the advice of the Interior Ministry, demonstrations in support of Palestine have been banned in France since Oct. 12.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Council of State stated that it is up to the prefects (local government representatives) to assess all gatherings “case by case” to determine whether there was a risk of disrupting public order.

However, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin issued an order, once again, prohibiting all pro-Palestinian gatherings in the country.

People attending the ceremony did not carry any Palestinian flags or specific clothing, nor did they chant any slogans in solidarity with Palestine, according to the journalist.

The journalist also said that he and the other journalists were found “ourselves circled by police officers who would not leave anybody.”

“I showed my press card, but an officer told me that he ‘does not care about it’ and needs only my ID, accusing me of participating in a ‘prohibited demonstration’,” he added.

“Even though I explained why I was there, he started filling in information from my ID and told me that I had to pay a fine of 135 euros, advising me at the same time not to come to any future gatherings otherwise I would pay the same amount of money again.”

“I told the officer that the Council of State has nullified the government’s decision to ban pro-Palestine demonstrations,” but his colleague responded, “We took orders!”

The fined journalist also told Anadolu that he felt threatened and sad in the name of the freedom of the press and freedom of expression with the absurd ban and fining from the police.