France’s Far-Left Holds Pro-Palestinian Rally With Rapper Médine
A pro-Palestine rally featuring rapper Médine will proceed in Strasbourg despite city officials' objections to the concert format, which they claim was misrepresented by organizers.
In a joint statement, La France insoumise and the Collectif Palestine 67, co-organizers of the gathering, announced they would maintain the meeting-concert format despite what they describe as censorship attempts by the city administration, according to Valeurs Actuelles. The event is led by Socialist mayor Catherine Trautmann‘s administration.
The rally is expected to draw prominent far-left figures including European Parliament member Rima Hassan and Saint-Denis councilor Bally Bagayoko. As planned, Médine will close the evening with a performance.
The event has been scheduled to coincide with the monthly session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. According to La France insoumise MEP Manon Aubry, the gathering represents the culmination of a radical left campaign across the continent demanding suspension of the association agreement between the European Union and Israel. The initiative reportedly collected over 1.2 million signatures.
City Officials Object to Concert Element
The controversy erupted last week when organizers unveiled a poster prominently featuring Médine. Christophe Caillaud-Joos, director general of Strasbourg Events, which manages the Palace of Music and Congresses on behalf of the city, expressed surprise at the revelation. Officials said they had anticipated hosting a conference on international law and offered to accommodate the meeting without the musical component.
First Deputy Mayor Mathieu Cahn accused the organizers of employing deliberate tactics and using intentionally vague language about the true nature of the event, as reported by Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace.
Aubry rejected this characterization, maintaining that she requested authorization in April for a public meeting that could conclude with a free concert. The MEP emphasized that the artist has never been convicted of any crime, despite numerous controversies surrounding him.
Médine’s Controversial Record
The rapper has faced multiple allegations over the years, including posting a tweet in 2023 deemed antisemitic, which he later expressed regret for, as well as making statements perceived as homophobic or aligned with Islamist ideology. Despite these controversies, no legal sanctions have been imposed against him.
The standoff ultimately resulted in organizers maintaining their original program format, marking a victory for the far-left coalition in their confrontation with municipal authorities over the Palestine solidarity event.
With information from Valeurs Actuelles
