In Switzerland, a writer, who is identified as Alain Bonnet but goes by the name Alain Soral, has been handed a 60-day prison sentence for making derogatory remarks about a journalist, Catherine Macherel. Soral was found guilty of multiple charges, including defamation, discrimination, and incitement to hatred, following his critical comments directed at Macherel.
The focal point of the controversy was Soral's use of the phrase "fat lesbian" when referring to Macherel. Alongside this derogatory term, he also criticized her work as an activist, labeling her as "unhinged."
As part of the court's judgment, Soral has been ordered to pay substantial legal fees and fines in Swiss francs, in addition to serving the 60-day prison sentence.
The incident dates back to two years ago when Soral launched a Facebook video tirade against Catherine Macherel, who works as a journalist for Swiss publications Tribune de Geneve and 24 Heures. In the video, he used the derogatory term and criticized her as a "queer activist," as reported by Swiss public broadcaster RTS.
The court's decision has garnered support from LGBTQ+ rights advocates, who view it as a significant moment for justice and LGBTQI rights in Switzerland. According to Murial Waeger, co-director of the lesbian activist group LOS, "The conviction of Alain Soral is a strong signal that homophobic hatred cannot be tolerated in our society."