El Yess Zareli, his real name, was tried on October 23, notably for “public incitement to hatred” during a tense hearing, punctuated by disruption from the public.
After a tense trial on October 23, pro-Palestinian activist Elias d’Imzalene was finally sentenced to 5 months’ suspended imprisonment and to pay damages to five associations fighting against anti-Semitism. This forty-year-old, recognizable by his long black beard, had called for “lead the intifada in Paris” last September 8.
That day, Elias d’Imzalene, whose real name was El Yess Zareli, took part in a demonstration to denounce the “Palestinian genocide”Place de la Nation. “Are we ready to lead the intifada in Paris? In the suburbs? In our neighborhoods? We will show them that the voice of liberation comes from us. Let it start from Paris”he said, haranguing an excited audience. The speaker also described Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron as “accomplices” of “genocide” Palestinian.
“Macron this election thief, right? We know the thieves who live at the Élysée and Matignon. Are we ready to fire them too?”he blurted out. It was for these remarks that he appeared, free, for “public incitement to hatred or violence because of origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion”last October.
Hearing peppered with disruptions
Faced with the judge of the Paris criminal court, Elias d’Imzalène declared with confidence that the word «intifada» corresponds to “a pacifist expression of indignation at the Palestinian genocide”. The magistrate reminded him of the Larousse definition: «L’intifada is a popular revolt waged against an oppressive regime or a foreign enemy.”
The hearing was punctuated by disturbances from the public, mainly composed of supporters of the activist, keffiyeh and watermelon-shaped kippa on their heads – this fruit has become a symbol of pro-Palestinian support, chosen for its colors similar to those of the Palestinian flag , Editor’s note.
Defender of the Muslim cause
Despite her attempts at victimization in court, the prosecutor requested an 8-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 2,000 euros. This did not prevent Elias d’Imzalene from participating in new pro-Palestinian mobilizations. He was notably in Saint-Denis on the evening of the France-Israel football match, alongside Éric Coquerel, LFI deputy and president of the Finance Committee of the Assembly.
Questioned the next day at the microphone of RMC, about the presence of this man pursued by the courts, the elected official estimated that Elias d’Imzalene was «plus respectable» as Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau.
The activist from Trappes regularly defends causes linked to Palestine, the suburbs or Islam, such as his support for the expelled imam Iquioussen. He also stood alongside Assa Traoré after the death of Nahel, but also in front of a school in Trappes to denounce the ban on the abaya at school and with Sciences Po students during the blockade against “the genocide in Gaza”.
