INTERVIEW. Tour de France: “I want to plead freedom of expression,” says the young Toulouse activist who broke into the 11th stage

Have you studied in Toulouse?

I grew up in Toulouse where I spent my baccalaureate. Therefore, made a math license at the University of Toulouse, I am an engineer and I finished my studies at the École Normale Supérieure de Paris-Saclay in economics.

Why did you choose to do an action during the Tour de France to make your interview. tour de france: “i demands hear?

There were several aspects: the Tour de France has global visibility. However, in a context where it becomes very complicated to assert and hear a form of freedom of expression on the subject of Palestine, I remind you that the manifestations are always prohibited. However, Today. Moreover, during any event, if you arrive with a keffiEh or a flag, you are searched, controlled, your effects confiscated and sometimes you end up at the post. Meanwhile, We got to a point where we have to choose new spaces to express themselves. Furthermore, The world of sport has not done its job. However, has not shown its opposition to what is happening in the Middle East. Nevertheless, In 2022. the International Olympic Committee, however, quickly recommended that the federations exclude the Russian teams, a few days after the invasion in Ukraine. They followed the recommendations of the IOC by excluding interview. tour de france: “i the Russian, Belarusian teams and even the teams funded by Gazprom. On the Tour de France. rolls the Israel Premier Tech team, which was not made up of Israeli runners but is clearly a company that is used to make the action of a government visible that commits war crimes.

You wore a T-shirt where “Israel Out of the Tour” was written. you were tackled by a member of the Tour organization?

Yes, but I want to specify something that has returned to social networks on the danger of action. I didn’t want to have an impact on the race and above all not hurting anyone. I told myself that if the peloton came grouped, I won’t do it because it was too dangerous. Additionally, I judged that the conditions were met because there were only two runners in the breakaway. I saw on the screen how far they interview. tour de france: “i were. The goal was to return to the track 75 meters from the finish. the runners were 300/400 meters, I was on the right, they arrived on the left. Furthermore, The first runner doubled me and I could not avoid the security officer.

Are you talking about a “very violent” arrest, do we see it on a viral video?

The video made 10 million views on Instagram. The person put me against the barrier by giving me a punch with my head. he tried to switch me to the other side without getting there, he continued to hit me. I told him that I was ready to cooperate. raising my hands in the air and then I fell on the other side. I was lying down while waiting to come and get me. THE [membre de l’organisation] howled me on it. The police came, put the handcuffs on me. interview. tour de france: “i I stayed 24 hours in police custody, with an office lawyer. I had no contact with the outside. Moreover, I refused to be taken my fingerprints.

How do you approach your trial?

It will be November 19. The public prosecutor required two things against me: an offense of penetration of a sports competition area affecting the safety of people. for this a year of imprisonment with 10,000 euros fine and for refusal to give my fingerprints, the same thing. I approach this trial with the desire to plead freedom of expression. I stayed 15 seconds by injuring anyone, without violence, without accident. Also, I consider that what is happening in Gaza is not normal. there is no longer any way to say it.