In a decision that has caused quite a stir in the media world, Swiss authorities this week sentenced French-Swiss writer Alain Bonnet, more commonly known as Alain Soral, to a 60-day jail term. His crime? He referred to Catherine Macherel, a journalist with the Tribune de Geneve and 24 Heures newspapers, as a “fat lesbian” in a video posted on the social media platform Facebook. Additionally, Soral dubbed her “unhinged” and criticized her role as a “queer activist.”
The court verdict has been both hailed and criticized from various corners. It underscores the rigorous enforcement of a 2020 Swiss law prohibiting discrimination based on gender or orientation. The court also imposed hefty fines and legal fees on Soral, driving home the seriousness with which Switzerland regards what would be considered constitutionally protected speech in the U.S. — for now.
If the left has it's way this will come to America.
LGBTQ groups praise Swiss authorities for imprisoning writer after he called a journalist a 'fat lesbian' https://t.co/syVpsWssgg— Robert C. Wilkins (@wilkinsrobertc) October 5, 2023
A cascade of reactions poured in after the judgment. Murial Waeger, the co-director of LOS, a lesbian activist group, remarked, “This court decision is an important moment for justice and rights of LGBTQI people in Switzerland. The conviction of Alain Soral is a strong signal that homophobic hatred cannot be tolerated in our society.”
There’s a growing concern in the Western world about the threshold for what counts as free speech and what is considered an offense worthy of imprisonment. Soral’s attorney, Pascal Junod, criticized the ruling, emphasizing that his client had been wrongly sentenced for a mere “crime of opinion.” Junod caustically remarked that the court’s decision punished someone for sinning “against the dogmas of a single thought.” He said he intends to appeal the conviction, even suggesting they might take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if required.
For those unfamiliar with Soral, this is not his first run-in with the law over controversial statements. He has faced numerous convictions in France, most notably for Holocaust denial — a crime in that country. He even served jail time in 2019 due to a conviction. At the time, this ruling was applauded by the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism for its “exceptional character.”
However, the broader implications of this Swiss ruling cannot be ignored. In an age where opinions are broadcast far and wide on social media platforms, the consequences for what one posts are becoming increasingly severe. There is a growing concern that laws like the one in Switzerland might be wielded to stifle free expression, even in America, where the First Amendment has been under continuous assault by leftists in recent years.
