European Lawmaker Faces Trial for Anti-Muslim Hate Speech in France

"Political Islam is spreading everywhere in France and even here in Normandy. We must put an end to this drift and to the communitarianism that brings both delinquency, crime and even terrorism," Nicolas Bay had declared, in a video broadcast in 2021 and filmed in front of the construction site of the mosque in Évreux "whose construction he denounced." Remarks reported by Timour Veyri, PS deputy of the Eure to the justice.

Targeted by an investigation for "incitement to racial hatred", Nicolas Bay lost his parliamentary immunity on Thursday after a vote by the members of the European Parliament, reports BFMTV. Timour Veyri is pleased with this. "I am pleased that Mr. Bay’s unqualifiable remarks against our fellow citizens of Évreux may lead him to appear before the justice of our country tomorrow. [...] Today as tomorrow, I am determined not to give in to racist speech and never to let opportunistic populists sully the image of my city and the people of Évreux," the Normandy regional councilor notably wrote.

"I will go and fight before the French justice, since that is the objective, and of course I will continue to fight the Islamization of France [...] The fight continues, we won’t give up anything," Nicolas Bay reacted in a video posted on social networks.