The former leader of a French political party has been fined €5,000 ($5,470; £3,686) for ‘publicly inciting hatred or violence’ against LGBTI people.

A court in Paris on Thursday (17 December) handed down the sentence to Christine Boutin, ex-president of the of Christian Democratic Party, for saying that ‘homosexuality is an abomination’ in April 2014.

Boutin – who was minister of housing and urban development under President Nicolas Sarkozy – must also pay €2,000 in damages to two LGBTI groups, Mousse and Le Refuge.

‘This decision sets a precedent for several reasons. It is no longer possible to escape criminal liability for homophobic remarks under the guise of religious discourse,’ said Etienne Deshoulières, the lawyer for Mousse.

In a 2014 interview with Charles magazine, Boutin said: ‘Homosexuality is an abomination. But not the person.

‘The sin is never acceptable, but the sinner is always forgiven.’

She has already announced on Twitter her intention to appeal.