World Jewish News
Paris court to try comedian for anti-Semitism
12.04.2009
PARIS (JTA) - Paris courts will prosecute a controversial French comedian on charges of anti-Semitism.
Dieudonne Mbala Mbala will go on trial May 5 in Paris for bestowing a bogus prize upon a notorious Holocaust denier, Robert Faurisson, in a Dec. 2 performance for an audience of 5,000 near Paris, according to French reports.
If convicted, the 42-year-old comedian may face a maximum fine of nearly $30,000, the AFP French press agency reported Wednesday.
The black comedian known as Dieudonne has been barred from performing in most French cities since the December stand-up routine, in which an actor dressed as a Jewish Nazi camp prisoner awarded Faurisson a prize for "unrespectability and insolence."
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far-right political party who recently called Nazi gas chambers a historical "detail," sat among thousands of spectators who cheered and laughed when Faurisson made his surprise stage debut alongside Dieudonne.
Dieudonne recently announced his intention to run for election to the European Parliament on an "anti-Zionist" ticket which groups together supporters from the far left and right political parties. The election will be held June 7th.
Dieudonne has been condemned and charged with racism and anti-Semitism in the past for remarks comparing Jews to "slave-traders" and belittling the importance of the Holocaust.
Источник: JTA
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