dtoo much! By presenting, at the wrong time and without consultation, an ambivalent bill aimed at repealing the crime of advocacy of terrorism, the deputy of La France insoumise (LFI) Ugo Bernalicis, a specialist in security issues of the “insoumis” group, probably has long buried the opportunity to reform a 2014 law that is straying from its goal. But LFI is not the only one responsible for this legislative fiasco. With their desire to demonize a political opponent, the far right, the right, the center and even some socialists have preferred to engage in political controversy rather than engage in debate on a real issue. They preferred infamous epithets: “anti-France”, “negligible”, “indescribable” – disqualify LFI, several of whose officials are being prosecuted or have been summoned for this reason, from real parliamentary work on a text that was not yet on the agenda.
To understand what is at stake, we have to go back to 2014. At that time, the jihadist sphere was in full swing following the proclamation of a pseudo-caliphate straddling Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State organization (IS) and its recruits. . Protesters, attracted by massive propaganda on social media, arrive by the thousands from all over Europe. We urgently need to adopt legislative instruments to crack down on online glorification of the despicable acts committed by ISIS. It is clear that we must equip ourselves with instruments to repress the preachers of hate.
The crimes of advocacy of terrorism and provocation to commit terrorist acts, which since its creation in 2006 were covered by the press law, as well as defamation and insult, are included in the Penal Code and are now covered by the anti-terrorist law. Fines lead to prison sentences of up to five years, or even seven for online publications. The prescription ranges from three months to three years. Police custody and immediate appearances are possible. Anti-terrorist resources (sound systems, eavesdropping, online infiltration, etc.) are put at the service of investigators. And finally, convictions can be entered in the file of perpetrators of terrorist crimes (Fijait), which has serious post-sentence implications.
With the jihadist attacks of January and November 2015, the number of convictions for advocating terrorism skyrocketed. In 2016, 526 sentences were handed down. With the decrease in jihadist attacks on French soil, these figures tend to decrease: 352 convictions in 2017, 260 in 2018, 228 in 2019. The decrease in attacks was accompanied by a sharp reduction in these litigations, which fell to 136 convictions , many of which against minors, in 2022.
You have 52.43% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
