Posted on 02/28/2017 7:12:10 PM PST by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union lawmakers "overwhelmingly" voted on Tuesday to lift the EU parliamentary immunity of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen for tweeting pictures of Islamic State violence.
Le Pen, a member of the European parliament, is under investigation in France for posting three graphic images of IS executions on Twitter in 2015, including the beheading of the United States journalist James Foley. Responding to a request from the French judiciary, the EU lawmakers in the legal affairs committee voted to lift her immunity, EU officials said. The committee's decision will have to be backed by the whole parliament in a second vote, possibly this week.
Le Pen's immunity shields her from prosecution; lifting it would permit legal action against her. The offense being considered is "publishing violent images," which under certain circumstances can carry a penalty of three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($79,650). MEPs "overwhelmingly voted to lift Le Pen's immunity," said euroskeptic 5 Star Movement lawmaker Laura Ferrara. A Parliament official said 18 lawmakers voted in favor of removing Le Pen's immunity and three voted against. Le Pen could not immediately be reached for comment. "Showing and naming the horror of Islamism allow us to fight against it," Florian Philippot, the vice president of Le Pen's far-right National Front party, told Reuters. Le Pen, locked in an increasingly tight three-way race to succeed Francois Hollande this spring, has already seen her earnings as MEP cut for a different case involving alleged misuse of EU funds.
She has denounced the legal proceedings against her as political interference in the campaign, where she is the lead candidate, and called for a moratorium on judicial investigations until the election period has passed.
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I seriously cannot believe the LACK of freedom of speech in Europe!
I mean, seriously? Prosecuted for something she posted? To make a point - as opposed to threat?
Exactly!
The modern Europeans must actually want to be Dhimmis.
Well, more precisely, godless europe.
Incredible - telling the truth is a crime. Hopefully the french people have woken up. The EU is their enemy.
Those euweenies must have a lot of faith in the Muslims, because they are probably betting their lives on their good behavior. Europeans, the French in particular, have a long and colorful history of quickly and decisively dealing with politicians who are proven to be enemies of the people.
I believe, if it went that far, that when the muslims have enabled a one world govt. to take over, the muslims would be slaughtered.
It’s time for decent Europeans to consider the possibility of a forcible overthrow of the traitors who seek to enslave them.
They don’t have a first amendment like we do. Makes it easier for the elites to squash speech they don’t like.
There are actually quite a few who do not. Unfortunately they are stuck with a lot of lousy politicians.
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