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| Sunday, 14 July 2002 |
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French journalist wins anti-Semitism suit PARIS, July 12 (Reuters) - A French radio journalist tried on charges of fomenting anti-Semitism by broadcasting criticisms of Israel's treatment of Palestinians won an acquittal on Friday after an emotionally-charged trial. The court found that Daniel Mermet, who aired the comments on his France Inter radio programme in June 2001, had broadcast provocative remarks of his own and his listeners against Israel but these did not amount to spreading anti-Semitism. Mermet broke into bitter tears at the end of the trial. "Mud sticks," he complained to journalists outside the courtroom. "This is an attack on my professional honour I will never forget. I was dragged before a court for supposedly being an anti-Semite. This is disgusting, even if I was acquitted." The case arose after Mermet broadcast six comments called in by listeners for a series about the Middle East conflict. Some accused Israel of murdering Palestinian children and tarring its critics with the brush of anti-Semitism to silence them. "Let's not be racists, zionists, let's be brothers," one caller appealed.Mermet added his own criticisms of Israeli policy, based on a visit to the region, and read an inflammatory anti-Israeli poem written by a Palestinian teenager. The court ruling said Mermet had been reporting on an issue that was by its very nature controversial and had expressed his criticism "without any racial consideration". The Union of Jewish Students of France and the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism brought the suit against Mermet and were supported by several prominent intellectuals. Roger Cukierman, head of the CRIF umbrella group of Jewish organisations, warned during his testimony at the trial of the "devastating effect" comments could have when broadcast. Journalist Alexandre Adler recalled a recent wave of anti-Jewish attacks in France, mostly linked to protests against Israeli policy in the Middle East, and added: "We must not broadcast calls to hate. A journalist is responsible for the words he transmits to others." More than 26,000 people -- for their part supported by about 20 leading intellectuals -- signed a petition by the press watchdog group Reporters without Borders entitled "Are we allowed to criticise Sharon?" The petition denounced the suit against Mermet as a bid to gag critics of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's hardline policies in the Palestinian territories. "We reject this mania for blaming people and this suspicion," it said. Also on Friday, Reporters without Borders said it had added Sharon to its list of enemies of press freedom after Imad Abu Zahra, a Palestinian freelance reporter, died in hospital after being shot by Israeli soldiers on Thursday. |
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