Algerian-French Influencer Sofia Benleman on Trial in France for Hate Speech
Lyon court prosecutes social media influencer for inciting violence against France, as diplomatic tensions with Algeria escalate.
Watan-Amid rising diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France, the French public prosecutor has demanded a one-year suspended prison sentence, 240 hours of mandatory community service, and a six-month electronic ban for Algerian-French influencer Sofia Benleman (54 years old). She appeared before the criminal court in Lyon, France, on Tuesday, facing charges of inciting violence against France on social media since 2022, including alleged death threats.
A final verdict in the case is expected on April 15.
“Hate Speech Has No Place in Democracy”
During the trial, the public prosecutor stated:”French law allows you to express your opinion freely, but there are limits.” He emphasized that her statements were extremely dangerous, filled with hatred, and unacceptable in a democracy.
Benleman, dressed in an Algerian-flag-colored shirt, defended herself by arguing that her words were a form of expression and casual speech. She stated:”I never intended to cause any harm—my words got ahead of my thoughts.”
Her lawyer, Frédéric Layard, argued that she was being wrongly portrayed as having significant ideological influence, claiming that her statements were random words exchanged in informal conversations. He added:
“Without the political context at the time, she would not have been brought before the court.”
A History of Controversy
Benleman has been accused of making death threats on social media against Algerian opposition figures. She was arrested in early January, along with three other Algerian influencers in France, for allegedly promoting hatred against France and inciting violence. She has since been placed under judicial supervision.
Benleman has around 350,000 followers on TikTok and Facebook. Since 2023, she has posted videos, including one in which she directly verbally attacks another woman, using offensive language such as:
“F** you and France!”* and “I hope you get killed, I hope someone kills you!”
This is not her first legal issue. In 2001, Benleman was sentenced to seven months in prison (suspended) and banned from entering stadiums for three years after storming the Stade de France with an Algerian flag during a friendly match between France and Algeria.
While she was previously a vocal critic of the Algerian government, her stance has completely changed in recent years, and she now openly supports the current Algerian leadership.
Similar Cases Fuel Diplomatic Tensions
Benleman is not the only Algerian influencer facing legal action in France. Others include:
- Youssef Zouzou – Convicted in February for inciting violence and attacks in France and Algeria via TikTok. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and banned from France for 10 years.
- Doualman – In March, a court in Montpellier sentenced him to five months suspended prison for calling to “discipline” an Algerian opposition figure in a TikTok video. He was expelled from France in January, but Algerian authorities sent him back to Paris, a move France saw as an insult that worsened tensions.
- Imad Tintin – Accused of inciting terrorism in France via TikTok, his trial has been postponed to May 23 for linguistic verification of his statements.
These cases have further fueled the diplomatic rift between Algeria and France, highlighting the complexities of free speech, political influence, and social media regulation in both countries.
