A French-Palestinian MEP, Rima Hassan, was temporarily detained by Paris prosecutors on suspicion of online advocacy of terrorism after a post on X referencing Kozo Okamoto, the 1972 Tel Aviv airport attacker.

She was kept in police custody and appeared before the police judiciary, then released with a summons to appear at the correctional court on July 7, 2026.

Hassan is due to stand trial on July 7, 2026, facing charges of advocating terrorism online, with potential penalties including up to seven years in prison and a €100,000 fine.

The case fits a broader pattern of heightened scrutiny of political positions, with allies alleging that opponents are weaponizing leaks and media coverage against her.

LFI officials and Hassan’s supporters deny involvement in any drug activity related to the case and defend the tweet as protected speech, while the authorities say reporting the post was necessary to uphold the rule of law.

Hassan disputed the drug-possession reports, with ongoing investigations to verify her statements.

Hassan’s legal team pressed for scrutiny into leaks during custody, and Interior Minister defended reporting the provocative post to authorities.

Supporters from LFI and figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon describe the custody as part of a political campaign against voices supporting Palestinian rights.

Officials clarified that immunity did not need to be suspended to conduct custody, and emphasized the case concerns online statements rather than any physical act.

Media coverage notes Hassan’s controversial stance on Israel-Palestine, with debates about Hamas and international law in the background.

The public defense centers on freedom of expression and contesting the charges against Hassan.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon has labeled the proceedings politically motivated, drawing wider political commentary.