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French far-right leader sentenced | French far-right leader sentenced |
(3 days later) | |
French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has been given a three-month suspended jail term for playing down the Nazi occupation of France. | French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has been given a three-month suspended jail term for playing down the Nazi occupation of France. |
Le Pen, who was also fined 10,000 euros (£7,400), described the occupation as "not especially inhumane". | Le Pen, who was also fined 10,000 euros (£7,400), described the occupation as "not especially inhumane". |
Le Pen, 79, is the leader of the French far-right party, the National Front. | Le Pen, 79, is the leader of the French far-right party, the National Front. |
He reached a surprise second-place finish in the 2002 French presidential election, after beating the socialist candidate in the first round. | He reached a surprise second-place finish in the 2002 French presidential election, after beating the socialist candidate in the first round. |
Le Pen's remarks were made in an interview with the far-right magazine Rivarol in January 2005. | Le Pen's remarks were made in an interview with the far-right magazine Rivarol in January 2005. |
Elsewhere in the article he described the 1944 massacre of 86 people in the town of Villeneuve d'Ascq as the actions of a junior officer "mad with rage", and praised the Gestapo for its role in the incident. | |
The French court ruled that Le Pen had denied a crime against humanity and had been complicit in condoning war crimes. | The French court ruled that Le Pen had denied a crime against humanity and had been complicit in condoning war crimes. |
This is not the first time that Le Pen has faced legal sanctions for making controversial comments about the actions of the Nazis. | This is not the first time that Le Pen has faced legal sanctions for making controversial comments about the actions of the Nazis. |
In 1987 he was fined for describing the Nazi gas chambers as a "detail of history". | In 1987 he was fined for describing the Nazi gas chambers as a "detail of history". |