The French judiciary does justice to the Algerians who were attacked during the 2019 African Cup of Nations – Al-Hiwar Al-Jazairia

A French court, on Sunday, sentenced seven people to prison terms of up to two years, accused of committing racist attacks against Algerians in Lyon during the celebrations of winning the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

Five of the defendants were sentenced to 4 years in prison, two of them suspended, the sixth to one year imprisonment, including six months suspended, and the seventh to one year suspended.

It is suspected that the seven defendants participated in the attacks on the evening of July 19, in the center of Lyon, after Algeria’s victory in the final of the African Cup of Nations in Egypt. The seven people were among a group of about thirty people, armed with iron bars and baseball bats, who were incited by the far-right movement to attack Algerians and their supporters, while the defendants denied the incident or their belonging to “any group.”

For his part, Jean-François Barry, a lawyer for one of the defendants, said: “It is a fairly fair decision in his analysis. But it is too early to tell if we will appeal.”

After deliberation in the trial for racial violence, Friday 7 July 2023. The Correctional Court of Lyon delivered its verdict. The seven defendants were convicted and sentenced to several prison terms.

France is witnessing widespread racism against foreigners, especially Muslims and Arabs, which has spread to official circles and security services.