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Class War issue 81: Political Prisoners In France
In February this year two anti-fascist activists from the city of Marseille in the south of France, Yves Peirat and William Ferrari, were convicted of a number of militant anti fascist actions. Between 1991 and 1998 as the Franc Tireur Partisans (FTP Partisan Sharpshooters) Peirat and Ferrari were alleged to have set fire to and bombed offices of the French fascist party the Front National (FN) as well as buildings where they met.
Although they did not injure anybody, on the sixth anniversary of the day that a group of FN fly posters murdered a young north African, Ibrahim Ali, the court of Marseille condemned Yves Peirat to a staggering 5 years in prison and William Ferrari to 18 months suspended sentence. The two were also condemned to pay the fascist councils they attacked 750,000 francs (approx £75,000) in damages.
These actions were carried out to combat the rise of the extreme right in the south of France represented not only by the murder of Ibrahim Ali, but by oppressive racist regimes taking control in a number of southern French towns and cities: these included Orange, Toulon and Vitrolles which is like the British National Party holding a majority of council seats in Liverpool, Blackpool and Chester.
The radicalisation of the methods used by the FTP was a way to show the fash that their opposition would not give in to their intimidation and also that alternatives to state led opposition to fascism exists. The actions of the FTP gained a large degree of popular support.
Class War fully supports the action and principles that these two anti fascist activists showed. The punitive sentence that Peirat received from the French state is clearly meant to be a lesson to other anti-fascist activists. To help fight for the freedom of Peirat and removal of the fines support groups have been started up by French anti-fascist groups.
If you want to help Yves and William, a benefit t-shirt is available for 65 French francs (about £6.50 but if you send them a tenner it would cover postage and give a donation) from:
Solidarite Resistance Anti-Fasciste, 21 ter Rue Voltaire, 75011, Paris, France.
Information is also available from the committee for the liberation of Yves Peirat and William Ferrari at:
Comité, Theatre Toursky, Passage Leo FERRE, 13003, Marseille, France.
Back to issue 81 contents
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