The online media Rue89 Strasbourg launches a call for donations to his readers, because of a legal case which opposes him to a theology teacher at the University of Strasbourg. This professor is the subject of two complaints, including one for rape. Following an investigation by Rue89 Strasbourg, he sued the media for defamation. A dismissal of the case was pronounced in June. But the teacher counterattacks in civil court. Procedures that are very expensive: Rue89 Strasbourg appeals to people of good will to raise 10,000 euros.
Pierre France, the founder of Rue89 Strasbourg, explains: “We had to hire a lawyer, it has already cost us several thousand euros. However, as a press organization, when we publish something, we do it in the interest of society.” He denounces a “gag procedure”a term used “from the moment we try to silence a media outlet, with legal means that it cannot cope with.”
Because Rue89 Strasbourg is a “small structure, with a turnover of around 200,000 eurosspecifies Pierre France. Every month, we spend around 15,000 euros. If we have to pay 10,000 euros in legal costs, it is extremely important.” Which, according to him, aims to discourage the media from carrying out investigations, particularly on sexist and sexual violence : “It is very difficult to work on the subject, because the proof, the recovery of speech, is very complicated, often the victims do not dare to speak. There is a lot of work to be done, but it is extremely important for society to show that this violence is widespread, that many women are victims, including among the youngest.” – in this case, here, it was students who testified.
“If in addition, adds Pierre France, the message is that as soon as you attack the aggressors, you have two or three years of legal proceedings, many media will self-censor.”
