Frenchman Farid Ghilas jailed for video showing him throwing a kitten
Video footage of Ghilas hurling the kitten sparked outrage across France
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man has been jailed for twelve months after being filmed throwing a white and ginger kitten at a wall in France.
Video footage of Farid Ghilas, 24, appeared online showing him picking the cat up and launching the animal in the air towards a block of flats in a housing estate.
Ghilas appeared at a Marseille court on Monday, where he was found guilty of acts of cruelty against a domestic and tame animal, according to news agency Agence-France-Presse.
Animal rights activists staged a protest outside the court during the hearing and a petition was signed by 260,000 people calling for Ghilas to receive “exemplary punishment”.
Prosecutor Emmanuel Merlin told the court Ghilas' sentence was justified, as "his particularly perverse and sadistic act disgusted the entire planet."
The Society for the Protection of Animals said five-month-old Oscar is being treated for a stomach injury and a broken foot, but is otherwise expected to make a full recovery.
Warning: Video contains graphic footage viewers might find distressing
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments