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Apr 03, 2026

French Police Detain EU Lawmaker Rima Hassan Over Alleged Terrorism Apology, Prompting International Outcry

AI Summary
European Parliament member Rima Hassan was taken into police custody in France on accusations of ‘apology for terrorism’ linked to a social‑media post about a 1972 airport attack. The detention, which also uncovered a small amount of synthetic drugs, has been denounced by her left‑wing party as an attempt to silence pro‑Palestinian voices and raises concerns over the erosion of parliamentary immunity in France.

French authorities detained European Parliament member Rima Hassan on Thursday, accusing her of "apology for terrorism" after a social‑media post referenced Kozo Okamoto, a participant in the 1972 Ben Gurion Airport attack. The detention, reported by Le Parisien, marks a rare instance where a sitting MEP’s parliamentary immunity appears to have been set aside.

According to the newspaper, Hassan had already removed the contentious post from X, but the investigation continued. Police also reported finding a small quantity of synthetic drugs in her possession during the arrest.

Jean‑Luc Mélenchon, founder of the left‑wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party, condemned the move on X, stating, "There is no longer parliamentary immunity in France. Intolerable." He and other LFI colleagues argue the action is designed to silence supporters of Palestine.

LFI parliamentarians Sophia Chikirou and Mathilde Panot echoed the criticism, accusing the French police and justice system of being weaponised against activists. Panot warned that President Emmanuel Macron’s France is witnessing a "new level" of criminalisation of political opponents.

The controversy follows Hassan’s recent denial of entry to Canada, which she described as censorship, and a prior alert by far‑right National Rally politician Matthias Renault to Paris prosecutors about the same X post. Renault welcomed the detention, calling it "the beginning of the end of impunity for the LFI MP."

Hassan, a 33‑year‑old French‑Palestinian lawyer elected to the European Parliament in 2024, is a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza and participated in a Gaza‑bound flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in October 2025. Her advocacy has repeatedly drawn ire from pro‑Israel groups across Europe.

While Hassan and her legal team have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment, the incident raises broader questions about the balance between anti‑terrorism legislation and political freedoms within the EU, especially as debates over Palestine intensify across the continent.