'Transgender woman': 10 found guilty of harassing France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron online
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "'Transgender woman': 10 found guilty of harassing France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron online")
'Transgender woman': 10 found guilty of harassing France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron online Photograph: (Credit: AFP)
French media reported that they have been allegedly accused of spreading false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male.
On Monday (Jan 5), a Paris court found 10 people guilty of the cyber-harassment of France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron. French media reported that they have been allegedly accused of spreading false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male.
Eight defendants were handed suspended terms of four to eight months, while a ninth man was sentenced to six months in jail over his absence from the hearing. They and a tenth person were ordered to follow a course against hate speech online. Presiding judge Thierry Donard described the claims of the French first lady's "alleged paedophilia" as "malicious, degrading and insulting", saying the defendants had received sentences for "intentionally harming the complainant".
Also read: Fake France coup, real panic: Macron learns he'd been 'overthrown' from Africa. Watch video
In recent years, scrutiny of the couple's relationship has extended to the widespread publication of false information, which they have resolved not to ignore and instead combat in court.
The French president and first lady have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing US podcaster Candace Owens, who falsely claimed the spouse of the French president used to be a man. Emerging as early as Macron's election in 2017, the claims have been amplified by far-right and conspiracy theorist circles in France and in the United States, where transgender rights have become a hot-button issue at the heart of American culture wars.
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