Fan jailed for year over Nazi salute during Israeli Eurobasket game
Bosnian man also exposed buttocks before Israel-Russia match, claims he was showing others how not to behave
A French court sentenced a Bosnian fan to one year in prison Monday for giving a Nazi salute and exposing his buttocks before a Saturday European basketball championship match between Israel and Russia in southern French city of Montpellier.
Edin Mehinovic, 35, told the court that he made the racist gesture during the qualifying game “to show three extremist Swiss fans sitting near me exactly what they should not do, in what French website BFMTV called “an absurd line of defense.”
He said he exposed his buttocks because “I was provoked by the public when I got up to make the gesture.”
Mehinovic performed the gesture during a rendition of the Israeli national anthem prior to the game’s start, French news site 20 Minutes reported.
The verdict far exceeds what the law mandates for incitement to hatred and indecent exposure in France, according to BFMTV.
Before attending the Israeli-Russian match, Mehinovic was at a game between Bosnia Herzegovina and Poland.
Despite the pre-game interruption, the Israeli team did well, beating Russia 76:73 in its first game in the basketball championships.
It was an unexpected victory, as the Russian team was heavily favored.
Israel suffered its first loss in the tourney to the Bosnian team Monday.
Jonathan Beck contributed to this report.