French law enforcement agencies interceded and threatened administrative closure of a restaurant called Chamas Tacos after it was noticed that the neon lighting encased with the letter “C”–which had actually burned out six months ago and was read as “Hamas Tacos,”–was flagged by the agents just this week as “an apology for terrorism”—in light of the Gaza conflict.
The eatery is located in Valence, south-eastern France, Mediavenir reported on Tuesday.
The French government appeals to the public prosecutor whenever it believes that a pro-Palestinian statement constitutes an example of an “apology for terrorism.”
The day before, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne condemned Hamas attacks and described the group and its actions as of a terrorist nature during the government Q&A session held at the National Assembly, while paying tribute to victims of the conflict.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, popular support for Palestine has achieved a minor victory.
The State Council, referred to as the “Comité Action Palestine”–an organization supporting Palestine’s “right to self-determination”–cautioned the government on Wednesday that it is simply not feasible to target every single instance of pro-Palestine sentiment nationwide.
It is solely up to the prefects to determine whether there are grounds for prohibiting a demonstration locally due to the risk of disrupting public order, or over the determination that the demonstration is indeed intended to support the Palestinian people,” the Conseil d’Etat highlighted in a news statement.
One week prior, French Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti threatened seven years imprisonment for anyone who sympathizes with “what Israel is being subjected to by supporting Hamas or declaring its support” for Palestine, while Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin concurrently prohibited all pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the French Republic.