Paris; 12 June 2020 (UMMN): The European Court of Human Rights has ruled on Thursday that France violated the freedom of expression of pro-Palestinian activists who were convicted for campaigning against Israeli goods, and ordered French government to pay 101,000 euros ($115,000) in overall damages to a group of 11 activists.
The global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement hailed the court's decision.
“This momentous court ruling is a decisive victory for freedom of expression, for human rights defenders, and for the BDS movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality,” Rita Ahmad from the Palestinian-led BDS movement said in a statement.
According to ABC News, the protesters, led by French activist Jean-Michel Baldassi, were convicted of incitement to economic discrimination after taking part in a 2009 demonstration at a hypermarket in the eastern French town of Illzach and handing out leaflets calling for a boycott of Israeli products. France’s top court upheld the conviction.
But the European human rights court found that the criminal conviction “had no relevant and sufficient grounds" and violated the freedom of expression of the protesters. The court is based in the French city of Strasbourg, and countries that signed the European Convention on Human Rights – including France - are bound by its rulings.
The BDS movement has called for boycotts against Israeli businesses, universities and cultural institutions in what it says is a nonviolent campaign against Israeli abuses against Palestinians, reported ABC News.
Amnesty International expressed hope that the ruling would “send a clear message to all European states that they must stop the prosecution of peaceful activists.”
