French politician fined $4,320 for public insult of 'discriminatory nature'

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – A former far-right presidential candidate in France was fined €4,000 ($4,320) for public insult of a "discriminatory nature," according to local media on Thursday.

The Court of Paris found Eric Zemmour guilty and fined him €4,000 for insulting Hapsatou Sy, a TV host of the Canal+ media group, in 2018, saying her name is "an insult to France."

He is also fined €3,000 for compensation for damages.

Zemmour's lawyer Olivier Pardo said he will advise his client to appeal to the decision.

During the public filming of the TV show "Les Terriens du dimanche" in September 2018, the producer company cut out some scenes where Zemmour insulted Sy about her first name, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Sy later posted those scenes filmed by a set worker and filed a complaint.

In the part that was cut, Zemmour says: "Normally in my country, we should give names that exist in the calendar of saints.’’

When Sy reminds him of her first name, he says: "Then, your mother was wrong giving you that name. Corinne would have suited you better."

The court said Zemmour's comments were "outrageous" and "of a discriminatory nature," according to local media.