French court releases New Caledonia independence leader detained over deadly riots
A French court freed an independence leader from the overseas territory of New Caledonia who had been detained for a year over deadly riots in 2024.
Christian Tein, who is indigenous Kanak , was charged and incarcerated over the rioting on the Pacific archipelago in May last year that left more than a dozen dead.
He has been held in custody in eastern France since June 2024 but has always denied accusations of instigating the violence and sees himself as a political prisoner.
In a hearing attended by Agence France-Presse, the Paris appeals court ordered the release of Tein on Thursday after a video call with him in which he promised to respond to future judicial summons and to live with his partner in eastern France.
They ordered his release under judicial control on condition he does not return to New Caledonia nor enter into contact with other suspects in the case, a source close to the case said.
Prosecutors have lodged an appeal.
One of Tein's lawyers, Francois Roux, on Thursday hailed what he called 'a first victory'.
'This is a decolonisation case that is being followed by the United Nations,' he said, adding it was regrettable to see 'pro-independence activists being treated like terrorists'.
New Caledonia, nearly 17,000km (10,500 miles) distant from mainland France, in the Pacific Ocean, is one of several overseas territories that remain part of France.
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