NICE, France

The arrest in France of pro-Palestinian political scientist Francois Burgat has sparked a strong backlash in the country.

Burgat, a renowned political scientist who supports the cause of besieged Gaza, was placed in custody over alleged “advocacy of terrorism,” his lawyer said Tuesday.

The European Jewish Organization filed a complaint about Burgat, an expert on the Arab world and Islamophobia, for a reposting on X this Jan. 2, Rafik Chekkat told Anadolu.

Burgat, 76, was released late in the afternoon of his arrest, Chekkat said on X, calling his arrest “scandalous.”

M’jid El Guerrab, a former member of the French parliament, told Anadolu that people should mobilize and speak up about this “unacceptable” custody and “harassment.”

Philosopher Joel Roman, a former editor-in-chief of Esprit magazine, called the idea of putting Burgat into custody “senseless.”

“I know him a little bit, and in no case can Francois Burgat be suspected of advocacy of terrorism,” he said.

Vincent Geisser, the director of research at Paris’ National Scientific Research Center, called the arrest “shameful,” saying it was like a “witch hunt.”

Citing Burgat’s 40 years in service of the French Republic, Geisser called on all his colleagues to express their “individual or collective solidarity.”

Burgat has openly expressed his support for Gaza and said in a post on X earlier this year that he has “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 on Hamas, calling it a capitulation to US and Israeli policy.

*Writing in Ankara