The well-known politician is fined 10 thousand euros for inciting hatred and racial abuse

France's far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour was fined 10,000 euros on Monday for inciting hatred and racial abuse.

Zemmour, 63, described unaccompanied immigrant children as "thieves," "murderers," and "rapists" during a September 2020 program on CNN television, in which he was invited as an expert.

"They have nothing to do here, they are thieves, they are murderers, they are rapists, that's all, they must return and never come back. It's a permanent occupation "and" an immigration policy problem ".

He did not attend the trial in November and was not present during the communication of the verdict. Zemmour considered the decision "an ideological condemnation and folly" and announced he would appeal.

Prosecutors had demanded that he be fined 100 euros a day for 100 days, for a total of 10,000 euros, or sent to prison if he fails to pay.

A representative of the public prosecutor's office had said that Zemmour's comments were "contemptuous, scandalous", showed "violent rejection" and "hatred" of the immigrant population and had crossed "the limits of freedom of expression".