He ‘claimed, unconvincingly, to have ‘attacked political Islam and not the Muslims.'”
Since his posts were not quoted, however, this claim cannot be independently verified.
He says he “wanted to counterbalance an almost totalitarian doxa of happy globalism.”
Yes, but totalitarianism is total indeed, and it defeated him.
“Teacher fired and sentenced for Islamophobic posts,” translated from “Un enseignant viré et condamné pour des posts islamophobes,” by Maria Pineiro, 20 Minutes, December 20, 2021:
His verbosity on Facebook cost P. his teaching job and a conviction. On Monday, the Police Court upheld a criminal order against the 50-year-old for racial discrimination and public provocation to crime and violence. Between June and July 2018, the defendant published numerous Islamophobic posts on Facebook. In front of the judge, he expressed regret, but claimed, unconvincingly, to have “attacked political Islam and not the Muslims.” He admitted, however, a “lack of nuance.”
Countering “happy globalism”
As for his motivations, P. denied having an “Islamophobic obsession,” simply claiming to have “wanted to counterbalance an almost totalitarian doxa of happy globalism.” He denied that he wanted to incite readers to violence against the target groups. His words earned the former teacher “who loved his job,” according to his father and his lawyer, an administrative investigation deemed “dependent” which led to his dismissal by the Department of Public Instruction (DIP). For P., now employed in a training center, this affair “destroyed my life. I am ashamed of my people, ashamed of having been ostracized and undergone a real social downgrading.”
Conviction confirmed
For his lawyer, Me Yves Nidegger, P. thus suffered a “triple sentence,” dismissed, sentenced and, as a consequence, a real “descent into hell.” The lawyer pointed out that his client thinks himself on the networks “in an area where he can express himself, like his colleagues on the other side.” He thought he was “authorized to have opinions.” Me Nidegger defended “political posts” and a desire to “slay ideas” to seek acquittal. But this was not successful. P. was sentenced to a 90-day fine of 100 fr. with three years of a suspended sentence.