Marine Le Pen, the former leader of the National Rally, was notably absent from her trial hearing on charges of «public insult based on origin, ethnicity, nation, race, or religion». The session unfolded last Monday in the seventeenth chamber of the Paris Criminal Court, with her lawyer representing her. On the opposing side stood the plaintiff, Yasmine Ouirhane, who was honored as the Young European of the Year in 2019 by the Schwarzkopf Foundation. She appeared to contest the narrative put forth by the prominent figure of the far-right party. Previously, the young Moroccan-Italian woman had been targeted for wearing a veil, a practice she has since abandoned. During her time as a student at Sciences Po Bordeaux, Yasmine Ouirhane was singled out by Marine Le Pen, who associated her with «radical Islam». The plaintiff decried «the violence of this essentialization», expressing that she still carries «scars» from the experience. During the hearing, as reported by Mediapart, the plaintiff recounted how she was «compared to Daesh» and labeled as «an invader». The aftermath of Marine Le Pen's remarks led to a wave of online harassment, prompting Yasmine to leave France and relocate to the United Kingdom, though she returned in 2023. Now serving as a sales manager at a tech company and holding a degree in international relations, Yasmine Ouirhane emphasized her dedication to «intercultural dialogue», «peace», «equal opportunities», and «the fundamental right of young women to be heard», irrespective of their backgrounds. «A label was unjustly attached to a young woman who is anything but radical Islam», declared Me Ilana Soskin, Yasmine Ouirhane's lawyer. In contrast, Marine Le Pen's attorney argued for acquittal, asserting that his client's tweet was part of «a political debate» rather than a racist insult. The court's decision is anticipated on January 20, 2026. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen is also expected to appear in court for a separate case involving European parliamentary assistants.
