A French court has handed Algerian football player Youcef Atal an eight-month suspended prison sentence for sharing a post on social media about the war in Gaza. The court found that the video Atal reposted provoked hatred on religious grounds. Additionally, Atal has been ordered to pay a fine of 45,000 euros ($49,000).
The controversy began when Atal shared a video of preacher Mahmoud al-Hasanat on his Instagram account, which had over 3.2 million followers. The video was posted five days after the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October. In the video, al-Hasanat reportedly made an anti-Jewish remark and called for Palestinians in Gaza to retaliate against Israel. Atal claims he did not fully watch the video before sharing it and quickly deleted it when warned by his club, Nice, that it would attract controversy.
During his court hearing, Atal apologized for his actions and stated that he intended to send a message of peace. However, the court did not find his explanation convincing. Prosecutors argued that by sharing the video, Atal was endorsing its message and increasing its visibility. As part of his punishment, Atal will also have the details of his conviction published in regional daily Nice-Matin and national newspaper Le Monde.
In addition to the suspended sentence and fine, Atal received a seven-match ban from the Professional Football League (LFP) and was temporarily suspended by his club, Nice. However, he has since completed his ban and continues to play for the Algerian national team. Atal’s support in his home country remains strong, and he is included in the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations competition.
This case is not the first instance of football players facing criticism or penalties for their social media posts regarding the war in Gaza. French football star Karim Benzema also faced backlash after criticizing Israel’s assault on Gaza. France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin accused him of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood, although no evidence was provided. A French senator even called for Benzema to be stripped of previous football awards and his French citizenship.
The case of Youcef Atal highlights the ongoing debate surrounding social media posts and their potential consequences. The court’s decision serves as a reminder that sharing content on social media carries responsibility and can have legal implications.
