Algerian footballer Youcef Atal, from Nice, arrested for inciting hatred against Israel

The Algerian defender of Nice Youcef Atal He has been arrested, accused of inciting hatred for religious reasons, for having shared a video on social networks in which a Palestinian preacher called for attacking Israel and will be tried on December 18.

The footballer, who had been under investigation since October and had been suspended by his club, was placed at the disposal of Justice, which ordered his release under bail of 80,000 euros and the prohibition to leave France, except for reasons linked to his football activity, indicated the Nice Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the newspaper Nice Matin, although the investigations initiated against him initially pointed to charges of advocacy of terrorism and public provocation to hatred or violence, finally the accusation that led to his provisional arrest refers to a possible crime of “provocation to racial hatred on the grounds of religion.”

After the terrorist attacks by the armed wing of the Islamist group Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent offensive against Gaza, the footballer published a video of a Palestinian preacher who begged God to send “a black day for the Jews” and asked to accompany “the hand” of the inhabitants of the Strip who “throw stones” against Israel, the Prosecutor’s Office said.

The messages provoked the reaction of the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, who considered them “contrary to the ethics” of their sport and motivated both the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, as French Jewish institutions requested that an investigation be opened.

The footballer, who has not hidden his support for the Palestinian people, later apologized on social networks, condemned “all forms of violence” and showed solidarity with the victims. “I will never support a message of hate”said the 27-year-old Algerian international, who He has played for Nice since 2018.

Atal, who played this weekend with his national team against Mozambique, was already involved in a similar scandal in 2020 and had to apologize.

2023-11-24 17:17:02
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