Ten people go on trial in Paris on Monday for sexist cyber-harassment of Brigitte Macron, in the latest case sparked by unsubstantiated gender claims thrown at the French first lady for years by some in France and beyond.

The trial comes after she and President Emmanuel Macron filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States at the end of July, in connection with a rumour amplified and repeated online that Brigitte Macron was assigned male at birth.

The unsupported claim has long targeted the presidential couple, alongside criticism of their 24-year age gap.

Ten defendants -- eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60 -- will be tried in a Paris criminal court, accused of cyber-harassment targeting Brigitte Macron.

If convicted, they face up to two years in prison.

They have been accused o

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