'Fat Lesbian': Swiss Court Sentences Writer Alain Soral to 60 Days in Jail for 'Homophobic Remarks' (Video)

Geneva, Sep 27, 2023 (AP) – In a move hailed by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, a Swiss court has handed down a 60-day jail sentence to writer and commentator Alain Bonnet, known as Alain Soral, for comments made towards an activist journalist, including calling her a “fat lesbian.” The Lausanne court convicted Soral of defamation, discrimination, and incitement to hatred on Monday, also imposing significant legal fees and fines in addition to the jail time.

In a Facebook video posted two years ago, Soral’s “offensive” remarks were directed at Catherine Macherel, a left-wing journalist for Swiss newspapers Tribune de Geneve and 24 Heures. In the video, Soral referred to Macherel as a “fat lesbian” and described her work as that of a “queer activist,” suggesting she was “unhinged,” as reported by Swiss public broadcaster RTS.

However, ‘Queer activism’ is, in fact, promoting a Marxist and communist agenda, with a stronger political focus than a concern for sexual orientation, as acknowledged by Queer activists themselves. Consequently, insulting someone for their queer advocacy becomes a political act cloaked within the guise of a protected group.

LGBTQ+ organizations celebrated the court’s decision as a significant moment for justice and LGBTQI rights in Switzerland. Murial Waeger, co-director of the lesbian activist group LOS, stated, “The conviction of Alain Soral is a strong signal that homophobic hatred cannot be tolerated in our society.”

In response to the conviction, Pascal Junod, Soral’s lawyer, criticized it as a “crime of opinion” and suggested that the case aimed to test whether a person had “sinned against the dogmas of single thought.” Junod announced that Soral would appeal the decision, first to the Swiss federal court and, if necessary, to the European Court of Human Rights.

Waeger emphasized that the verdict marked an important step in implementing a measure approved by Swiss voters in 2020, which made it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on their sexual orientation.

Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter (now known as “X”), questioned the sentence, “Was what he wrote certainly rude, but to make it a criminal offense?”

Alain Soral’s Reflection on the Trial

As Alain Soral left the courtroom, he reflected on the trial and the eroding landscape of free speech. Soral stated, ‘So you waited, it’s good that you are here. You haven’t been waiting in vain. I’m just going to read a little text. It will be my final statement outside the trial. May I proceed?’

In his statement, Soral lamented, ‘I admit that I had somewhat idealized the Switzerland of my childhood, that of the 1960s and 1970s, back when I used to go on vacation in Lausanne, at my aunt’s, Christiane. I had not taken into account the damage done since then by the French-like leftism, and more recently by wokeism, and the cancel culture, to the independence and farsightedness of this country.’

He continued, ‘If I had been aware of this deterioration, I would have abstained from answering and arguing as I did. I would have let people harass, defame, and insult me in silence, as the court has invited me to do, in order to preserve a little of the tranquility that I have been seeking in Switzerland.

Switzerland is a historic land of refuge and tolerance, where, I remind you, I have no militant or public activity. I have too much respect for Switzerland and for politics to meddle in Swiss politics. But what is done is done.

I can only hope that my misadventure, one of a writer who, at retirement age, has been promised three months in prison for defending himself orally against mendacious accusations, that this misadventure, I say, will alert those Swiss citizens attached to freedom of expression about the damage caused by a culture of communal victimhood, which has never stopped spreading; damage done to civil peace and public freedoms.

Thank you for listening to me. And to some, thank you for hearing it.’”

Alain Soral’s Legal Troubles in France

It’s worth noting that Alain Soral has faced multiple convictions in France, including a significant one-year prison term in 2019 for various charges, such as insulting a female magistrate and making antisemitic remarks on his website, ‘Equality and Reconciliation.’ Furthermore, Soral’s legal troubles have extended to convictions for Holocaust denial, a criminal offense in France.

In the midst of ongoing debates surrounding free speech and the right to express provocative opinions, it’s essential to consider the words of Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident, who once eloquently stated, ‘But for all of us, it was absolutely obvious that we all wanted to live in a society where people can present their views and not be punished for this. It is called the town square test, where every person can go in the center of the town, say what he or she thinks, what she believes, to insist on their right to promote these views, and will not be arrested and will not be punished for this. And if that is possible, that is a free society. If it is not permitted, it is a fear society. And there is nothing in between.’

Free Speech

In today’s Europe, however, we are witnessing a changing landscape where individuals increasingly face legal consequences for expressing opinions that may be considered provocative, offensive, or even hateful. Despite the European Court of Human Rights’ assertion that Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects not only inoffensive ideas but also those that offend, shock, or disturb, the line between protected expression and punishable speech remains blurred. What may seem offensive is often deeply subjective, and it raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and the necessity of legal action.

The trial of Alain Soral serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the erosion of freedom of expression in modern societies. In a climate where expressing dissenting or unpopular views can lead to imprisonment and accusations of hate speech, the need to safeguard free speech has never been more imperative. Regardless of one’s personal opinions on Alain Soral, the trial underscores the urgency of defending the fundamental principle that a free and democratic society should allow individuals to express their beliefs without fear of retribution, even when our words hurt, embarrass, or horrify others.

The silencing of voices, no matter how controversial, should serve as a powerful warning about the fragility of free expression in the face of societal pressures. As we navigate the evolving landscape of free speech and the suppression of dissenting views, it becomes increasingly vital to protect and preserve the bedrock of democratic societies: the right to speak freely, even when our words challenge the status quo.