Football: Youcef Atal sentenced to eight months in prison for provoking hatred

The sanction fell. Appeared before the Nice criminal court on December 18 after sharing a video calling for “a black day for the Jews” on social networks, Youcef Atal was awaiting the court’s decision this Wednesday. The prosecution had requested a ten-month suspended prison sentence for provoking hatred on the grounds of religion. The court finally sentenced him to eight months in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros. This conviction must be published in Nice-Matin and Le Monde, at the player’s expense. He has 10 days to appeal.

Selected by Algerian coach Djemal Belmadi for the next African Cup of Nations, which begins on January 13 in Ivory Coast, the OGC Nice defender was not present for the deliberations. Youcef Atal has not played for two months, having been suspended for seven matches by the Professional Football League and “until further notice” by his club.

On October 12, it was a video of a preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, shared by Youcef Atal, which provoked these sanctions. Five days after the Hamas attacks against Israel and in the midst of an Israeli response, this preacher appealed to God to send “a dark day on the Jews” and “to accompany the hand” of the inhabitants of Gaza if they “throw the stone”. A video published by the player, who deleted it the next day, sending a message of apology. In court, Youcef Atal assured that he wanted to “send a message of peace” and did not watch the video until the end.

“These are serious facts, which must not be trivialized,” declared Meggi Choutia, the deputy prosecutor, during her indictment. Sharing a video means taking credit for the words and giving them visibility. At no point in those 35 seconds is there any question of peace. » “I am not anti-Semitic,” the Algerian international defended himself. I am neither against Jews nor against Christians, I have no hatred against anyone. » An argument which therefore did not convince the judges.