France arrests influencer for mocking Israeli baby's death
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A model identified as Warda Anwar is being investigated for “glorifying terrorism”.
SCREENSHOT: X
PARIS - A social media influencer was arrested in France on Thursday for making light of a reported killing of an Israeli baby by Hamas attackers, prosecutors told AFP.
In a video, the woman – identified by the media as model Warda Anwar – commented on a report by an Israeli first responder who said Hamas attackers had burned a baby alive in an oven during their assault on Oct 7.
The report has not been confirmed by Israeli authorities.
“I wonder whether they added salt and pepper first, did they add thyme?” Ms Anwar said in the video. “What was the side dish?”
Following strong reactions on social media to the video last week, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday he had filed a criminal complaint against Anwar.
Prosecutors said she was being investigated for “glorifying terrorism” and was taken into custody in Paris early on Thursday.
The Israeli embassy in France called Ms Anwar’s remarks “disgusting”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the embassy said “the unspeakable remarks must not remain unpunished”, and called for her social media accounts to be blocked.
French media said her video was carried on Instagram, but her account was not available on Thursday. AFP
