French MEP Rima Hassan to face trial over online terrorism apology charges

Rima Hassan, a 33-year-old French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, was arrested and detained in Paris for several hours on Thursday. The Paris prosecutor's office announced that Hassan has been summoned to appear before a criminal court on July 7, 2026. She faces charges of advocating terrorism committed online related to a post made on X on March 26, which has since been deleted. The post referenced the 1972 attack on Lod airport in Tel Aviv by the Japanese Red Army, which resulted in 26 deaths. Hassan had quoted an individual convicted for the attack who attempted to justify the incident by citing the oppression of people in Palestinian territories. Legal complaints were lodged by the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism and the European Jewish Organization. If convicted, the offence of online terrorism apology carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a fine of 100,000 euros. Hassan and her lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, have declined to comment until a press conference scheduled for Friday afternoon.