France: Muslim migrant who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ and threatened to behead a woman acquitted due to legal technicality

Image: Jihad Watch

This marks a significant setback in the proceedings led by Elliot Hellenbrand, the defense attorney representing the accused, who appeared in court for an immediate trial this Friday in Metz. The Kosovar national faced charges of repeated death threats, assault while intoxicated, and insulting a public official. However, he was acquitted of all these allegations. His only conviction was for carrying a weapon without valid justification—specifically, a small knife with a 6-centimeter blade found in his bag—resulting in a sentence of 140 hours of community service.

A quick recap of the incident: on Wednesday afternoon at the Metz Botanical Gardens, located in the suburb of Montigny-lès-Metz, the man allegedly threatened to behead a woman. Numerous witnesses, enjoying the spring weather, reportedly heard him shout “Allahu Akbar.”

The 49-year-old, who already had 10 prior convictions, then intimidated another woman by showing her the penknife in his bag. He was heavily intoxicated—almost 2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood—when police apprehended him nearby. Even during his arrest, he continued his aggressive behavior, directing homophobic slurs at a female municipal officer.

Nevertheless, as Mr. Hellenbrand emphasized, the defendant, originally from the Eastern Townships, had no interpreter present at the start of his police custody or during his psychiatric evaluation. This procedural flaw severely undermined the legal process, ultimately leading to a logical acquittal.

That said, the man has not been fully cleared. During his custody, the prefect issued an OQTF (Obligation to Leave French Territory) against him. He has since been transferred under escort to the Queuleu administrative detention center.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)