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A French court has overturned a suspended prison sentence for activist Thaïs d’Escufon, but her legal battle continues as she seeks a complete acquittal on hate speech charges.

French courts have backtracked on a suspended prison sentence for a sexual assault victim accused of “racism.”

Charged with “hate speech”, prosecutors wanted to throw the book at Anne-Thaïs du Tertre d’Escoeuffant (Thaïs d’Escufon), a 27-year-old Catholic and Identitarian.

The charge goes back to 2023, when d’Escufon asserted on television that the rise in crimes against women was tied to mass immigration.

Immigration Comments Spark Criminal Charges

As the European Conservative (EC) recounted, D’Escufon, described as an “opinion leader,” made the comments “during a discussion about a rape involving an illegal immigrant.”

About which, D’Escufon said, “the main danger for women is immigrant men, Africans, blacks, and Arabs.”

According to other reports, she incensed DILCRAH (France’s ‘anti-racist’ bureaucratic watchdog), which later filed a complaint.

The complaint led to accusations of “inciting racial hatred”, charges and the prosecution pursuing hard after a 12-month sentence and a 45,000 EURO fine.

EC said D’Escufon thinks that “one of the central reasons she has become a target of legal action is her outspoken criticism of immigration.”

Being a target stems from her position as spokeswoman for Génération Identitaire (GI).

Seemingly based on ANTIFA talking points published in January 2021, the French chapter was forcibly dissolved in March 2021 by French President Emanuel Macron.

Macron appeared to use far-left fearmongering about the so-called “far-right” to ban the group and attempt to imprison its members.

This was apparently because GI had demonstrated against anti-white racism.

For context, GI states that its platform is primarily about advocating for secure borders, preserving humanity’s diverse ethnocultural identities, and raising concerns about cultural extinction vis-à-vis Islamisation.

Appeal Removes Jail Term but Upholds Conviction

The political connection D’Escufon makes between her potential prison sentence and GI appears justified.

She was eventually handed a six-month suspended prison term and a 3,000 EURO fine.

This is the ruling that was partially overturned on appeal last month.

The court backtracked, dropped the suspended sentence, and reduced the fine to 1,000 EURO.

In 2022, I was invited on French television to speak about the sexual assault and detention I had suffered from a Tunisian migrant.

Meanwhile my attacher is still free, the justice system of my own country wants to sentence me to prison for saying that « the main danger to women… pic.twitter.com/Bfw0LRlA7p

— Thaïs d’Escufon (@ThaisEscufon) June 17, 2026

However, D’Escufon’s lawyer, Loïc Lerate, said in a press release that the court still found her “guilty of public insult on grounds of origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion.” (Read: “hate speech.”)

He refused to accept the decision, stating that they would now also be appealing the fine.

The court, he argued, “refused to recognise” that her remarks were devoid of any injurious intent, and were part of a debate.

D’Escufon’s statements also “fall within the strict framework of freedom of expression and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Activist Vows to Keep Fighting for Acquittal

Sharing Lerate’s response on X, she thanked supporters for helping her “escape a firm prison sentence.”

Unpacking the process in a YouTube video, D’Escufon said, “I clearly felt the objective was to destroy me completely and send me to prison.”

“We have pushed back against this absurd justice system.”

“As soon as we expose their actions,” she added, “they can no longer hide. We are literally forcing them to answer for their policies.”

“The victims are ignored, the repeat offenders are protected, and it’s only when the case makes headlines that politicians finally decide to react.”

Expressing frustration with what she considers two-tier justice, D’Escufon noted the speed at which the justice system polices “hate speech.”

Yet, “when it comes to saving the lives of native French people, support is no longer such a priority, and there’s a lack of resources.”

Although the appeal comes with a risk of an even harsher sentence, she explained that with the massive amount of support behind her, the risk was worth it.

Consequently, D’Escufon said she is demanding “a complete acquittal.”

“I fully intend to fight back because, deep down, accepting their decision, not using every possible legal avenue, would be almost like resigning myself to the dominant narrative.”

“It would be admitting that I was wrong to denounce what threatens the French, accepting to carry a criminal record like a common delinquent.”

Especially when all “I did”, D’Escufon asserted, “was speak out to protect French women.”

“Accepting this sentence is complicity, and I refuse. It’s not me who should be prosecuted.”