A French court on Monday found an Algerian online influencer guilty of inciting terrorism on TikTok, sentencing him to 18 months in jail.
The 25-year-old man, identified by officials as Youcef A. and known on social media as Zazou Youssef, had been charged in the western city of Brest with "advocating an act of terrorism" on the platform.
Prosecutor Camille Miansoni had recommended a prison sentence of two years for the charge that is punishable by up to seven years.
Youssef appeared in a video posted on the popular platform on 31 December calling for attacks in France and violence in Algeria.
The police prefect in France's western Finistere region, Alain Espinasse, ordered a judicial investigation after officers made him aware of the video.
According to authorities, Youssef had been living in France on a temporary residency permit and had appealed against a previous sentence for vandalism during riots in 2023.
In addition to the jail term, the court said Youssef could not reside in France for 10 years.
TikTok has said it banned the account from which the video was uploaded, for posting several videos that broke its rules on hate speech.
Second case
Also on Monday, prosecutors in Montpellier requested a six-month suspended prison sentence against Boualem Naman, an Algerian influencer known under the pseudonym "Doualemn".
He was arrested last month after posting a video on TikTok allegedly calling for violence against an Algerian anti-regime protester.
He was deported to Algiers, but authorities there refused to accept him and sent him back to Paris.
France accuses Algeria of ‘humiliation’ after deported influencer is denied entry
At his hearing on Monday, Naman acknowledged the facts, while emphasising that he had not made "not calls for murder". He expressed his "regret", explaining that he had "lost his temper".
Placed in detention upon his return, the father of two was released on 6 February after the courts suspended the deportation order and canceled his "OQTF" (obligation to leave French territory).
Political tension
Three other Algerians suspected of inciting violence in TikTok videos were also arrested last month, with at least two of them facing terror-related charges.
The arrests come amid growing political tensions between Paris and its former North African colony.
In particular after President Emmanuel Macron renewed French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara during a landmark visit to the kingdom last year.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is mostly under the de facto control of Morocco. But it is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, who are demanding a self-determination referendum and are supported by Algiers.
(with AFP)
