French Islamic-studies scholar François Burgat, a former senior researcher at the CNRS and a specialist on the Arab world, was found guilty Wednesday of “publicly glorifying acts of terrorism” by the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal. The ruling comes one year after he was acquitted at first instance in a case that has become highly symbolic in France, touching on the boundaries between free speech, political activism, and support for a terrorist organization.
At the heart of the case were several posts published on the platform X in January 2024, just months after the October 7 massacres carried out by Hamas in Israel. Burgat had notably relayed a Hamas statement disputing accusations of rape and sexual violence committed during the attack. The statement, issued in response to a New York Times article documenting the sexual violence of October 7, denounced what it called an attempt to “demonize the resistance” and portrayed its members as “fighters for freedom and dignity.” Burgat was also prosecuted for writing that he held “infinitely more respect and consideration” for the leaders of Hamas than for those of the State of Israel.
In its decision, the Court of Appeal held that these statements no longer fell within the scope of academic debate or political analysis, but amounted to public praise of a terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacres. The court refused to treat his defense, which framed the case as a matter of free speech and academic freedom, as a shield against the charge.
Burgat was sentenced to a fine of 5,000 euros and three years of ineligibility for public office. He must also pay damages to several civil-party associations, among them the European Jewish Organization (OJE), the LICRA, and Avocats Sans Frontières. The court declined to enter his name into the national automated judicial register of terrorist offenders.
It is worth recalling that the public prosecutor’s office had appealed the initial acquittal and requested an eight-month prison sentence. The court did not retain a separate charge tied to posts published after the trial over the murder of teacher Samuel Paty, upholding the acquittal on that specific point. Burgat may still file an appeal before the Court of Cassation.
