https://arab.news/c2dv7
- The 27-year old defender, who quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, was suspended by his club
- Two associations have brought civil actions against the player
NICE: Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France Monday accused of inciting hatred after posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatens Israel with a 鈥渂lack day.鈥�
Atal, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, shared the video on his Instagram account, which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7 in which 1,139 people were killed.
In an extract of the footage seen by AFP, the preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, at first talked about the plight of children in Gaza.
Prosecutors said they also identified another extract in which he called on God to 鈥渟end the Jews a black day,鈥� and 鈥渟teady the hands鈥� of Gaza inhabitants if they should 鈥渢hrow stones.鈥�
The 27-year old defender, who quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, was suspended by his club while prosecutors probed the incident for suspected 鈥渏ustification of terrorism.鈥�
But they dropped that line of investigation after watching the video and questioning the player, instead charging him with 鈥渋ncitement to religious hatred.鈥�
Two associations, the International League against Racism and anti-Semitism (Licra) and the Jewish Observatory of France, have brought civil actions against the player.
If found guilty, Atal could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined 45,000 euros ($49,000).
He has been under judicial supervision with a ban on traveling abroad except to play professional football.
His club quickly suspended him 鈥渦ntil further notice鈥� after the post, while the professional football league banned him for seven matches.
Some of Atal鈥檚 Algerian team mates argued for leniency, saying he had apologized and not actually watched the video until the end before posting it.
The deadliest ever Gaza war began with unprecedented attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7, when the group killed 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250, according to updated Israeli figures.
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said some 19,000 people have been killed in Israel鈥檚 campaign in Gaza.