The arrest of the pro-Palestinian political scientist causes reactions and debates about the limits of freedom of speech in France Francois Bourgaswho supports Hamas.

Burga was taken into custody for allegedly “defense of terrorism”, Rafik Chekat’s lawyer announced on Tuesday.

The European Jewish Organization filed a complaint against Burgas, an expert on the Arab world, for republishing a comment on January 2, Rafik Cekat reported in Anadolu.

Burga, 76, was released late in the afternoon of his arrest, Chekat announced to X, calling his arrest “scandalous.”

Philosopher Joel Roman, former editor-in-chief of Esprit magazine, called the idea of ​​detaining Burgat “absurd”.

“I know him a little, and Francois Burgas can in no way be suspected of advocating terrorism,” he said.

Vincent Gechet, director of research at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris, called the arrest “disgraceful”, saying it looked like a “witch hunt”. Citing Bourgas’ 40 years of service to the French Republic, he called on all his colleagues to express their “individual or collective solidarity”.

Burga has openly expressed his support for Gaza, noting in a post on X earlier this year that he feeds “infinitely more respect and appreciation for the leaders of Hamas than the leaders of the State of Israel.”

He has also criticized France’s stance towards Hamas, calling it a “capitulation to US and Israeli policy”.