ISTANBUL 

A proposed French law aimed at combating what it describes as “renewed forms of antisemitism” has sparked growing backlash from human rights groups and pro-Palestinian organizations, which warn the legislation could restrict freedom of expression and criminalize criticism of Israel.

The bill, tabled on Nov. 19, 2024, by lawmaker Caroline Yadan and scheduled for debate in the National Assembly this week, seeks to address what its sponsors describe as a contemporary form of antisemitism linked to “obsessive hostility toward Israel.”

The text explicitly refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance(IHRA), including examples such as comparing Israeli policies to those of Nazi Germany.

On Wednesday, Yadan said on US social media company X that lawmakers had a duty to “clearly name this contemporary antisemitism in order to better fight it,” adding that inaction would amount to “accepting the normalization of hatred.”

However, the French Human Rights League (LDH) and the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine argue the bill would significantly expand state powers in ways that threaten public freedoms.

In a legal analysis, the groups highlighted provisions that would extend the offense of “apology for terrorism” to include “indirect incitement,” and allow prefects to close places of worship accused of portraying terrorism as a “legitimate resistance” or minimizing the danger posed by its perpetrators.

Activist Olivier Lek Lafferriere said the proposal represents a “serious and imminent danger to freedom of expression,” warning it could be used to criminalize solidarity with Palestinians by penalizing not only glorification of violence but also loosely defined “indirect provocations.”

The LDH said in a statement that the bill amounts to a “dangerous and inappropriate response” to the rise in antisemitic incidents reported by the Interior Ministry, adding that efforts to combat antisemitism must not be “instrumentalized to repress criticism of Israeli policy.”

The France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS) also warned that the draft law poses a “very serious threat” to organizations working on human rights issues.

The controversy has been further fueled by a petition calling for disciplinary action against Yadan, which has gathered more than 22,000 signatures.

The petition’s signatories accuse the lawmaker of ethical misconduct, including allegedly minimizing war crimes in Gaza and conflating pro-Palestinian slogans with support for Hamas.