The Paris prosecution has decided not to prosecute journalists suspected of breaching the secret defense in their investigations into the use of French weapons in Yemen, but has notified them of a legal reminder, the Agency learned. France-Presse (AFP) Wednesday, January 29, from judicial sources, confirming information from Mediapart.
"After a thorough study of the procedure, it appears that the infringement is characterized", wrote the prosecutor of the Republic, Rémy Heitz, in a letter of which the AFP had knowledge. "However, I have decided not to institute criminal proceedings against you and to file this procedure which however will constitute a criminal record. (…) Also, I hereby remind you of the terms of the law, inviting you to comply with them ”, he adds.
Journalists from the Disclose site, Radio France and the show "Daily" TMC had notably been heard in 2019 by the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI), summons denounced by about twenty NGOs and unions as an attack on press freedom.
Paris denies any engagement in offensive operations
Following a complaint from the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Paris prosecutor's office had opened an investigation in December 2018 for "Compromise of national defense secrecy" after the transmission to a media of a classified note "Confidential defense".
The latter lists in particular the weapons sold by France which would be deployed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen, theater of a deadly conflict since 2015.
NGOs regularly call on France to suspend sales of French weapons to these two countries, which are engaged in Yemen in a war against the Houthi rebels which has killed tens of thousands since 2015, mostly civilians. Paris defends itself by ensuring that sales are subject to strict controls and that French equipment is not engaged in offensive operations.
