Cédric Herrou at an appeal hearing. (Illustration) - Mathilde Ceilles / 20 Minutes

Leading figure in helping migrants, Cédric Herrou, was released on Wednesday by the Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) court. He was prosecuted for insult and defamation against the deputy LR Eric Ciotti in 2018. He had, at the time, rebelled on social networks against his call to return to Libya the rescue boats to migrants as the Aquarius.

On CNews, Eric Ciotti had expressed his understanding for the Italian position to close its ports and pleaded for firmness to reduce migratory flows, judging that the Aquarius should return to the Libyan coasts, but not land in Europe.

Cédric Herrou then governed on Tweeter in a first tweet, later deleted: "I found the biggest French pig to accommodate all the miserability in the world !! @ECiotti world champion !!! " The next day, he posted another message: "When @ ECiotti said in 2018 'let's put the migrants in Libya' he would say in 1940 let's put them in the gas chambers".

Cédric Herrou recognizes daring remarks

In mid-June, the prosecution had requested a conviction, without ruling on the sentence. The Roya valley farmer admitted that he had made a bit daring remarks but stressed that he had no intention of cursing, only to draw attention to the position of the deputy, untenable humanly according to him given the abuses in Libya.

His lawyers had argued that he had "a whistleblower function, and as such could benefit from freedom of information comparable to that of journalists".

Justice

Aid to migrants: The Lyon public prosecutor's office appeals on points of law after the release of Cédric Herrou

Justice

Nice: The prosecution abandons its appeal, the release of Martine Landry for assistance to migrants is confirmed

  • Society
  • Aquarius
  • Justice
  • Complaint
  • Eric Ciotti
  • Solidarity
  • Migrants
  • Nice