EU Parliament Defends FN Deputy from Prosecution on Qatar Statement

The European Parliament prevented France pursuing charges against one of its deputies, a member of Front National, who accused Qatar of financing terrorism.

The European Parliament refused to lift parliamentary immunity from Front National member Florian Philippot, who accused Qatar of sponsoring terrorism.

Philippot made the remarks on French radio two days after the Charlie Hebdo attacks on January 7, 2015. Qatar filed a complaint in April 2015, and the French government lifted Philippot's immunity, summoning him to court.

Le Qatar prend une claque: non levée de mon immunité votée à l'unanimité. L'Etat français s'est déconsidéré en validant cette plainte.

— Florian Philippot (@f_philippot) February 2, 2016

​"Qatar takes a slap: not lifting my immunity passed unanimously. The French State is discredited by validating this complaint."

The European Parliament's reasoning for the refusal was that members "can not be searched, detained or prosecuted in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the exercise of their duties."

"This vote highlights the compromise of the French government and particularly that of the former Minister of Justice, Mrs Taubira, who signed the immunity request waiver, in defiance of the law, following Qatar's complaint against me," Philippot said in a statement quoted by AFP.

After the court summons, Philippot continued his remarks, saying that he sees a relationship between Qatar and the French ruling class.