Watan-The solidarity post by Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal in support of the Palestinian cause following the events of October 7 continues to haunt him in France, where he now faces the real threat of prison time, with a final ruling expected by the end of April.
In the appeals session, the French public prosecutor requested that the original sentence handed to Atal be upheld. That sentence includes eight months in prison with a suspended sentence and a €45,000 fine, on charges of inciting religious hatred.
The case dates back to October 12, 2023, when Atal—then a player for French club Nice—shared a video on his Instagram account showing Palestinian preacher Mahmoud Hasanat reciting a prayer against Jews. The French judiciary considered this video an act of incitement to hatred.
“I Don’t Do Politics”: Atal Defends His Solidarity with Palestine
Before the court in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, Youcef Atal reiterated his previous stance, affirming he had no intention to incite hatred. In his defense, he said: “I’m a football player, I don’t do politics.” He explained that his sole intention in sharing the video was to express solidarity with the Palestinians, who were under intense bombing at the time.
He also stressed that he is not anti-Jewish, saying: “Supporting the Palestinian cause does not mean hostility toward Jews or anyone else.” He added that he did not watch the video to the end, and that had he done so, he would never have posted it. “I made a mistake and should have been more careful,” he told the court.
Despite his clarifications, French prosecutor Valérie Tavernier insisted on the same sentence issued by the initial court, claiming that the video Atal posted constitutes clear incitement to hatred, even if done indirectly. She emphasized that, as a public figure with millions of followers, Atal should have been more aware of the impact of his posts.
Since the outbreak of the case, Atal has faced immense pressure, forcing him to issue a statement clarifying that he rejects all forms of violence. He acknowledged that his post shocked many people, which was not his intention, and he apologized. In his statement, he emphasized his desire to clarify his stance without ambiguity, noting that he strongly condemns all forms of violence, wherever they occur, and that he supports all victims. He stressed that he would never endorse any message of hatred, underlining that peace is a core value he deeply believes in.
From Exile in France to Honor at Home: Atal’s Case Sparks Outrage and Solidarity
The campaign against Atal reached the point where Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice and a former French Minister of Industry, posted a tweet threatening to expel Atal from Nice. Major French sports newspapers, including L’Équipe, also launched a campaign against him and called for his punishment. These pressures led to the end of his career at Nice, which he left in summer 2024. The controversy also blocked his return to the French league, after Olympique de Marseille had considered signing him—only for political and media pressure to derail the deal.
In Algeria, Atal received broad support from the media and political parties. The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) released a statement calling the proceedings against Atal a “racist and barbaric act” that tramples on the very values of freedom of belief and identity that France claims to uphold. The party questioned why the player was being prosecuted simply for sharing a video of a prayer against Zionist war criminals—who have committed and continue to commit massacres against children, women, civilians, and have bombed hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches—in a country that claims to uphold the rule of law and freedom of expression.
The MSP emphasized that the case exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called human rights and freedom of expression values that the West claims to defend. They pointed out that Atal had already apologized and had been punished by the French Football Federation with a 7-match suspension, noting that “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood revealed the falsehood of Western values, and the double standards employed by Western regimes toward Islam and Muslims.”
The National Construction Movement also praised Youcef Atal for his brave stance in standing with his Palestinian brothers amid the brutal and criminal Zionist aggression on Gaza, and expressed full solidarity with the “proud son of Algeria” during what they called a racist ordeal. The movement also welcomed the courageous and principled stances taken by others—Algerians and non-Algerians in France—who have expressed human solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Condemned Abroad, Embraced at Home: Atal’s Struggle and Resilience
The movement, part of the current government, condemned in the strongest terms the racist incitement targeting Atal by far-right figures and pro-Israel lobbies, calling it an attack by those supporting a war aiming to exterminate an unarmed people. It also denounced the “flagrant double standards” applied to Algerian Muslims in France who show sympathy with the Palestinians, in a country that prides itself on human rights, freedom, and equality.
The People’s Party also condemned the racism and double standards shown toward members of the Algerian diaspora in France, expressing full solidarity with Atal and calling on all defenders of freedom, justice, and human rights to stand united in support of him. The party also urged Algerian authorities to take all necessary measures to restore Atal’s dignity and protect him from unjust persecution.
Following his departure from France, Atal briefly moved to the Turkish league, before settling at Al-Sadd Club in Qatar, where he continues his football career, away from the pressures he faced in Europe.
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