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The situation has rapidly escalated to serious levels. Last Monday, French-Moroccan Judge Youssef Badr had to cancel an event at the University of Reims due to death threats and racist attacks directed at him. Judge Badr, also the first deputy vice-president of the Bobigny court, faced backlash just days after contributing to the conviction of Erik Tegnér, founder of the identitarian media outlet Frontières.
As the president of the association La courte échelle and author of the essay «Pour une justice à 1000 visages», Youssef Badr was one of the three judges who ruled on Tegnér's conviction. Tegnér received a six-month suspended sentence, a €10,000 fine, and was ordered to pay €2,000 to each of ten immigration law attorneys.
The legal action was prompted by the defendant's publication of the plaintiffs' names and law firm addresses in a special edition of Frontières, titled «L'Invasion migratoire: Les coupables», released in January 2025. The ruling, based on the Paty law against doxxing, targeted the naming of these lawyers as «culpable» for the «migrant invasion».
Following the conviction, Youssef Badr was harassed online. The far-right faction ASLA labeled him a supposed «pro-immigration activist». In response, the judge announced on Saturday that he had filed a formal complaint.
On social media, Youssef Badr stated his resolve to pursue the matter «to the very end against all those who, publicly or anonymously, threatened [him] or spread false information».
I have just filed a complaint with the specialist service tasked with identifying all those who have threatened me since Thursday.
I am committed to seeing the process through to the end against anyone who, publicly or anonymously, threatened me or spread false information.— Youssef Badr (@Youss_Badr) June 20, 2026
«A postponement, not a cancellation»
The event organizers at the University of Reims, quoted by L’Union, confirmed that «he was eventually advised not to travel, for the sake of security and peace». They emphasized that «it’s a postponement, not a cancellation». Youssef Badr's talk was to focus on his career, the role of a judge, and the place of justice in society.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reacted strongly on social media, expressing firm condemnation. «In France, if you disagree with a decision, you file an appeal», he declared, affirming his ministry's support for the judge.
I strongly condemn the racist attacks and threats against a judge from Bobigny on social media. In France, if you disagree with a decision, you appeal.
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) June 20, 2026
I fully support this judge, and the ministry stands with him to...
The judges from Bobigny also responded, refuting claims of any «political decision» behind the conviction of Erik Tegnér. Meanwhile, Tegnér criticized the verdict as «an attack on press freedom» and has filed an appeal.
