-
Are cicadas in the south-east of France making more noise this summer?
‘We are in Provence and our cicadas are announcing summer’
-
EES: New data on EU entry refusals and extension of stay beyond 90 days
Why many Americans and Canadians are allowed to stay on for longer
-
New motorway costs if driving from France into Belgium
Proposed system is intended to make all road users contribute to maintenance costs
Eurovision singer sues over online gay hatred
France’s Eurovision contender has launched legal action after receiving more than a thousand hate messages over his sexuality and feminine appearance.
Bilal Hassani’s case is backed by the association Stop Homophobie, whose spokesperson Joël Berthout said: “The bullies think they can say anything under freedom of speech.”
The 19-year-old singer’s lawyer said the social media messages, which say they hope he will die and claim he is a disgrace to his country and his religion – although his beliefs are not known – were “unacceptable”.
Culprits risk six years in prison and a fine of €45,000.
Bilal, who is Parisian with French-Moroccan parents, has asked people to “let him live”.
He has apologised over an old tweet in which he accused Israel – host of the Eurovision contest on May 14 – of crimes against humanity, and after a video was published showing him joking about terrorism. He said he was young at the time.
