Former teacher and current president of an extreme-right association, Christine Tasin was fined 3,000 Euros on August 8 in Belfort after she made “insulting remarks against Islam” during the celebration of Aid-el-Kebir. She was charged with “incitement of racial hatred.”
Tasin made these comments on October 15, 2013 in Belfort during an exchange with Muslims. “Yes I’m Islamophobic, so what? I’m proud of my hate for Islam. Islam is filth…it’s a danger to France.” Her statement, which was filmed and posted on YouTube, occurred in front of a slaughterhouse that was installed for the ritual sacrifice during Aid-el-Kebir.
The Organization Against Racism and Islamophobia soon filed a complaint against Tasin. When she appeared in court on July 2 she was dressed in blue, white and red and made no attempt to deny her remarks. Prosecutors in Belfort stated that the words were “likely to incite rejection of Muslims by referring to them as a threat to France.” She received a three months suspended prison sentence and a 3,000 Euro fine. Tasin’s lawyer Joseph Scipilliti announced that his client would appeal the decision. “I find this judgment incomprehensible,” he said, “These are negative comments about Islam and not Muslims.”
