In the absence of his trial at the Foix court, a man is suspected of being the leader of a black metal group with anti-Semitic lyrics. With technical expertise being contested and the defense arguing the absence of formal evidence, the justice system must decide: a hateful author or just an amateur? The answer will come on June 9.
On Tuesday, April 14, in the courtroom of the Foix court, a chair remained empty. That of JB, a 36-year-old facing charges for spreading anti-Semitic remarks on the internet. Officially, he is “traveling,” according to his lawyer, Me Dedieu. A trip that was “planned long ago.” An explanation that has become systematic throughout the procedure for the accused.
However, he is facing serious charges: the dissemination of a song containing anti-Semitic content, notably on YouTube and the “Sanctuaire Résilience” website. Among the phrases highlighted by the investigation: “The Jewish race must die,” as well as “viper race” or “Jewish scab.” Is he simply a music lover or the author of the incriminated song? Today, justice is working to clarify many areas of uncertainty in this case.
Initially flagged by the Licra
It all started in July 2019 when the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism reported a black metal group named “Nécropole” to the authorities. The association denounced public incitement to hatred and violence.
The investigation began in August. Online, investigators traced the song which was shared on a website created in 2014. A video was also located on YouTube. The problem: the lyrics are hard to understand. Sound saturation, cavernous voice, raw production—often incomprehensible, confess the investigators themselves. But some passages, they argue, are distinct enough to indicate hateful content.
A website, an address, a diplomatic father
Technical investigations led to the host of the Sanctuaire Résilience website. It provided an address linked to Mr. B., a former French consul in China, and the accused’s father. Mr. B. explained to the investigators that his son did indeed live at this address during his studies and also confirmed that he is a fan of black metal music.
In April 2022, the police went to JB’s home in Ariège. They found equipment resembling a recording studio, instruments, vinyl records, and the album from which the piece in question was derived. They seized a computer, two phones, and numerous files. Among them: song mixes, a deleted but recovered history, and an English document translated as an ancient text with anti-Semitic tones. A radio show was also found in which a listener expressed joy to be part of the “most hated show for Jews.”
Author or just an amateur?
According to the investigators, JB could be the leader of the group. They present several elements: his presence at rehearsals, files found at his home, the reposting of the song, and bank transfers following the album’s release, potentially corresponding to sales.
Another troubling element is a tattoo similar to the one visible in photos of the group, although the images are too blurry for certainty. Even within the family, opinions differ: the father believes he recognizes his son, while the mother asserts the opposite. Faced with the police, JB denies. While he admits to “participating in a rehearsal,” he claims not to be a group member and chooses to remain silent.
Yoga and a vegetable garden
In court, his lawyer insists: his client is not as described. Spiritual retreat in Asia, a life focused on “reading, yoga, gardening, and renovating a family farm”—the defense paints a picture of a man completely different from the one portrayed by the accusation.
Regarding the content, the defense emphasizes: no formal evidence. Blurry photos, indirect links, and most importantly, incomprehensible lyrics. “What is inaudible should remain so.”
“It incites hatred”
The Public Prosecutor, Olivier Mouysset, does not agree with this analysis. For him, the remarks are clear: “It incites hatred.” He acknowledges the difficulty of establishing JB’s involvement as the author formally but invokes “a convergence of clues”: the song’s repost, the website’s address, and the tattoo.
He requests a two-month suspended prison sentence, a 400 euro suspended fine, and a citizenship course. The court will make its decision on June 9. Until then, a question remains: behind his wall of distortion, will justice be able to bring out a clear truth, or will it remain, like the song’s lyrics, partially inaudible?
