Court: Air France discriminated against pro-Palestinian activist

French court orders airline to pay $16,700 in damages for ordering off plane activist en route to 'Welcome to Palestine' rally in Israel

News agencies|Published: 04.04.13 , 21:01

A French court has convicted Air France of discrimination for removing a pro-Palestinian activist from a plane as she traveled to Israel to attend a rally.

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Patrick Baudouin says his client, Horia Ankour (30), a nursing student, was en route last April from France to take part in the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign, which saw hundreds of activists seek access to Israel in a bid to travel to the Palestinian territories. Baudouin said Air France asked Ankour whether she was Israeli or Jewish, then ordered her off the plane after she acknowledged she was neither.

He said the court on Thursday found Air France guilty of discrimination, and ordered it to pay 13,000 euros ($16,700) in fines, damages and interest.

Air France lawyer Fabrice Pradon said the airline would appeal. He said the Israelis had told Air France she would not be allowed in and there was no intention to harm her.

Europe's main airlines faced a wave of passenger fury during the campaign after cancelling some 300 tickets following heavy Israeli pressure.

AP, AFP contributed to the report