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Court Rules Against French Comedian Dieudonné in Free-Speech Case Court Rules Against French Comedian Dieudonné in Free-Speech Case
(about 9 hours later)
LONDON — In 2008, the French comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala finished a performance in Paris by inviting a Holocaust denier onstage to receive a prize from an actor dressed in striped pajamas resembling a concentration camp uniform, with a yellow star bearing the word “Jew.” LONDON — In 2008, the French comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala finished a performance in Paris by inviting a Holocaust denier onstage to receive a prize from an actor dressed in striped pajamas resembling a concentration camp uniform, with a yellow star bearing the word “Jew.”
The prize was a three-branch candelabrum with three apples on top.The prize was a three-branch candelabrum with three apples on top.
Mr. M’bala M’bala was convicted the next year on hate crime charges and fined 10,000 euros, or $10,750, in connection with the performance, and he eventually took his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.Mr. M’bala M’bala was convicted the next year on hate crime charges and fined 10,000 euros, or $10,750, in connection with the performance, and he eventually took his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
On Tuesday, the court ruled against him, saying that laws on freedom of expression did not offer protection from anti-Semitic comments or statements denying the Holocaust. On Tuesday, the court ruled against him, saying that laws on freedom of expression did not offer protection for anti-Semitic comments or statements denying the Holocaust. The case has highlighted growing tensions in France between the country’s commitment to free speech and the desire to prevent hate crimes.
The case has highlighted growing tensions in France between the country’s commitment to free speech and the desire to prevent hate crimes. Mr. M’bala M’bala’s brand of comedy has been widely condemned, while at the same time gaining support from some French Muslims, disgruntled youth and members of the far right. He lamented in 2013 that a prominent Jewish journalist had not died in “the gas chambers.”
Mr. M’bala M’bala’s brand of comedy has been widely condemned, while at the same time gaining support from some French Muslims, disgruntled youth in the cities and members of the far right. He lamented in 2013 that a prominent Jewish journalist did not die in “the gas chambers.” All the while, Mr. M’bala M’bala has argued that his dark humor is not anti-Semitic but rather aimed squarely at the French establishment.
All the while, Mr. M’bala M’bala, who is of French and West African heritage, has argued that his dark humor is not anti-Semitic but rather aimed squarely at the French establishment.
The Strasbourg court disagreed, and it said in its decision that the offending scene could not be construed as entertainment and that it instead resembled a political meeting that, under the pretext of comedy, promoted Holocaust denial.The Strasbourg court disagreed, and it said in its decision that the offending scene could not be construed as entertainment and that it instead resembled a political meeting that, under the pretext of comedy, promoted Holocaust denial.
The performance, even if satirical or provocative, the court found, was not protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, on the right to freedom of expression. The performance, even if satirical or provocative, the court found, was not protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, on the right to freedom of expression. “Disguised as an artistic production,” the court said, the performance “was in fact as dangerous as a head-on and sudden attack.”
“Disguised as an artistic production,” the court said, the performance “was in fact as dangerous as a head-on and sudden attack.” Mr. M’bala M’bala’s defenders argue that he is being subjected to a double standard and that the hate-speech laws have not been employed to prevent insults against Islam. They point, for example, to caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were published in the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which was targeted in terrorist attacks in France in January.
Mr. M’bala M’bala was arrested in January for comments he made on Facebook suggesting that he sympathized with Amedy Coulibaly, a gunman who killed four hostages at a Jewish supermarket during an outbreak of terrorist attacks in France in January.
Mr. M’bala M’bala was convicted of condoning terrorism for that offense under tough new antiterrorism laws in France and received a suspended two-month jail sentence.
His defenders argue that he is being subjected to a double-standard, and that the hate-speech laws have not been employed to prevent insults against Islam. They point, for example, to caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were published in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was targeted in the January attacks.
Mr. M’bala M’bala is also said to have invented and popularized an inverted Nazi salute known as the quenelle. He has said the salute was intended to satirize the French elite.