France - Freedom of the Press Prevails Over Comity

Today, the Tribunal de Grande Instance Paris, 17e Chambre (trial court) acquitted Philippe Val, the director of the French satiric newspaper Charlie Hebdo [Wikipedia, in French]. Mr. Val had been prosecuted for the publication of cartoons displaying the Muslim prophet Mohammad, one week after such displays by a Danish newspaper had led to protests from part of the Muslim community. Last September, a Danish court refused to hear the Danish cartoon case. Now, a French trial court emphasizes freedom of the press and refuses to hold the cartoon publishers accountable. For further information, see Find Law [in English] and LeMonde [in French].

If the issue was freedom of press versus comity, clearly freedom of the press prevailed. This outcome per se is not surprising because France has a long tradition of secularism and protection of freedom of expression. What struck me, however, as unfortunate is the meddling of politicians in the lawsuit: even the right-party candidate to the French Presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, expressed his solidarity with Mr. Val in a letter to the defense. Not exactly a way to attract voters from the vast Muslim community in France.