Former French Official Fined for Anti-Muslim Comments About Transit Workers

The former deputy mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines) had accused in December 2019 the management of the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) of having "recruited thousands of Arab-Muslim agents who despise Christmas and consider users as cattle".

These remarks were made as a sign of protest against the railway workers’ strike at the time. More than two years after her remarks, which were considered scandalous, Agnès Cerighelli’s conviction for racial discrimination has been upheld by the Versailles Court of Appeal.

She must also pay the sum of 1,000 euros for legal costs to each of the civil parties, such as the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH), the Licra and the MRAP.