Court: Recreational Hunters Not Defamed by Being Called «Killers»
Wildlife photographer Alain Prêtre was acquitted of charges of defamation, slander, and insult.
In La Chaux-de-Fonds, the court found on 30 September 2021 no grounds to convict wildlife photographer Alain Prêtre of defamation, slander, or insult against Neuchâtel recreational hunters.
«Killers», «Assassins» and «Pests»
In three emails, the photographer referred to the recreational hunters as «killers», «assassins» and «pests with malicious power».
The court concluded that it could not convict him, because while he had addressed Neuchâtel recreational hunters in general, he had not targeted any individual recreational hunter in particular. The defendant described his statements as «well thought out» and «chosen deliberately».
Pierre Meinis, lawyer for the Neuchâtel Recreational Hunters’ Association, expressed surprise and disappointment on radio station RTN: «The Neuchâtel recreational hunters were clearly targeted. Every time the recreational hunting season opens, we are systematically blamed.»
Calling recreational hunters murderers is not the expression of a viewpoint or an opinion, but of reality. Yes, they kill and decimate wild animals, yes, they slaughter endangered species, yes, they gravely mutilate deer, foxes, stags, and other animals.
Alain Prêtre
Acquittal Emboldens Prêtre
«So-called recreational hunting is, as the name suggests, a pleasure — deadly for wild animals and sometimes for humans too. I leave it to psychiatry to describe the pathology associated with this perversion, recreational hunting”!»
His acquittal has strengthened Alain Prêtre’s resolve in his campaign against recreational hunters: «I will fight until my last breath, not only against the gravediggers of nature, but against all those who attack the integrity of biodiversity.»
This case was by no means a foregone conclusion, as recreational hunters wield considerable influence, which they do not hesitate to use in such situations. The recreational hunters naturally have the option to appeal the court's decision, but Alain Prêtre, who was represented by lawyer Marta Fiedorczuk-Hénin, is delighted with this fine victory.
More on the subject of recreational hunting: In our dossiers on the criticism of recreational hunting gather fact-checks, analyses and background reports. What the research says about this is shown by Hunting fact-checked: the state of research.
The position of IG Wild beim Wild: IG Wild beim Wild rejects recreational hunting. Our model is the canton of Geneva, which has managed without recreational hunting since 1974: without hunting seasons, without hunting dogs, without driven hunts, without high seats, without the animal cruelty and crime that go hand in hand with hunting season elsewhere. What has worked there for over fifty years disproves every position paper by JagdSchweiz. An association that bases its policy on claims it refutes in its own documents is not a professional organisation, but a factory for misinformation.
