The French parliament will read tomorrow in its first reading a law that would criminalize comparing Israel to the Nazi regime. A panel of five UN experts warned the law could threaten freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

The draft law, submitted by parliamentarian Caroline Yadan in November 2024, envisions criminal penalties not just for denying a state's existence, but also for "excessively trivializing" terrorist acts or those responsible for them. It would also become a criminal offense to publicly call for the destruction of a state recognized by France.

UN: This is a dangerous expansion

The five experts warn the law "dangerously expands the already vague and overly broad concept of 'glorification of terrorism' in French law." Its unjustified restriction of free expression "would stifle legitimate public debate and advocacy of human rights, including those concerning Palestine and Israel."

"Criminal law should not suppress differing views on current or past events, regardless of how inaccurate, unpopular, or shocking they may be, unless such expression aims to incite violence," the statement reads.

The sharpest part? "By distorting the meaning of antisemitism and linking it with a broad spectrum of legitimate political expression, this law risks trivializing actual cases of antisemitic hatred." In other words - the law meant to protect against hatred could make it invisible. Criticism of Israel and Zionism, the experts stress, does not constitute antisemitism.

The law enjoys broad support in the French parliament, including from the far right. When both the far left and far right agree on something, it usually deserves closer scrutiny.