French polemicist, essayist and journalist Eric Zemmour.

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Jacques Witt / SIPA

“At first I wanted to talk to him and I was taken by the enthusiasm.

I reacted like a 16 year old kid ”.

A 28-year-old man, who was filmed on April 30 insulting polemicist Eric Zemmour in the streets of Paris, was sentenced Wednesday to three months in prison suspended by the Paris Criminal Court.

Mehdi K. was on trial for “repeated threat of crime”.

He was also prohibited from any contact with Eric Zemmour and will have to follow a citizenship course to, according to the court, "learn to reflect a little on what the law is".

Insults and excuses

In a video of about twenty seconds posted on April 30 on the Snapchat social network, he had staged insulting Eric Zemmour, shopping bag in hand, in the streets of the capital.

The accused had published in the wake of another video, in which he boasted of having spat on his victim, before expressing regret in a third sequence: “Seeing [Eric Zemmour], I got carried away.

"And to add:" I had neither the intention nor the desire to attack him physically […].

I didn't spit on him.

You can see in a video posted later bragging about spitting on him, but that's completely wrong.

"

Before the court on Wednesday, Mehdi K. repeats it: “I had neither the intention to harm his physical integrity nor to frighten him.

I don't think I scared him ”.

The defendant, working in an association to help children in difficulty, continues: “I had not envisaged that the video would be relayed so much.

I just posted it on my Snapchat (600-800 subscribers at the time).

I do not hide to have made me go up the straps by all the direction of the association.

I did not set a good example.

"

The support of Emmanuel Macron

The footage of the assault quickly went viral on social media.

Many political figures had denounced this aggression or given their support to Eric Zemmour, including Secretary of State Marlène Schiappa, President of the Republicans Christian Jacob, or even that of the Senate Gérard Larcher.

As well as officials close to the ideas of the essayist, like Marion Maréchal (RN) or the mayor of Béziers, Robert Ménard.

Great support for Éric #Zemmour whose courageous voice will not weaken following such a mediocre and vulgar aggression.

https://t.co/tRugnsugBz

- Marion Maréchal (@MarionMarechal) May 1, 2020

Above all, according to information from the weekly 

Valeursuelles

, Emmanuel Macron had also telephoned Eric Zemmour to express his support, 24 hours after the broadcast of the images.

Eric Zemmour will also know on September 25 the decision of the court after his trial for "public insult of a racial nature" and "public provocation to racial hatred" after a charge against immigration and Islam during a "Convention of the right ".

The trial, initially scheduled for January, took place last July.

Justice

Paris: Eric Zemmour tried for racist “insult” after remarks against Islam and immigration

Culture

Eric Zemmour attacked in the street in Paris, an investigation opened by the prosecution

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