This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/02/bob-dylan-sued-racism-croatia

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Bob Dylan sued for alleged racism Bob Dylan sued for alleged racism over remarks about Croatians
(about 17 hours later)
Bob Dylan has been sued by a French-based Croatian community organisation for alleged racism. Representatives from the Council of Croats in France (CRICCF) have filed a complaint in connection with a 2012 interview where the singer drew a line between Croats and Nazis. Bob Dylan has been placed under judicial investigation in France after a Croatian community organisation alleged comments he made to Rolling Stone magazine last year amounted to an incitement of racial hatred.
According to CRICCF secretary general Vlatko Maric, Parisian courts have accepted to hear their case and asked Dylan to appear as part of the hearing. "[Dylan's comments were] an incitement to hatred," Marić said in a statement. Although France has strict hate speech laws, CRICCF stated that all they are seeking is an apology. In the interview, published on 27 September 2012, the singer said racism was holding America back.
Dylan's controversial remarks appeared more than a year ago, in a conversation with Rolling Stone's Mikal Gilmore. "[The United States] is just too fucked up about [skin] colour," Dylan said. "Blacks know that some whites didn't want to give up slavery – that if they had their way, they would still be under the yoke ... If you got a slave master or [Klu Klux] Klan in your blood, blacks can sense that. That stuff lingers to this day. Just like Jews can sense Nazi blood and the Serbs can sense Croatian blood." "If you got a slave master or [Ku Klux] Klan in your blood, blacks can sense that," he was quoted as saying. "That stuff lingers to this day. Just like Jews can sense Nazi blood and the Serbs can sense Croatian blood."
The formal investigation followed a legal complaint from the organisation, CRICCF, which is based in France, alleging that the comments as carried in the French version of the magazine violated French racial hatred laws.
Dylan was awarded France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur award last month in Paris. The culture minister Aurelie Filippetti said that, for French people, he embodied a "subversive cultural force that can change people and the world".
Following the interview, several Croatian radio stations reportedly removed Dylan's songs from their playlists. The CRICCF brought forward their complaint in November 2012, naming Dylan as a defendant as well as Rolling Stone's French publisher. "We have nothing against Rolling Stone magazine or Bob Dylan as a singer," Maric said. "[But] you cannot equate Croatian [war] criminals with all Croats."Following the interview, several Croatian radio stations reportedly removed Dylan's songs from their playlists. The CRICCF brought forward their complaint in November 2012, naming Dylan as a defendant as well as Rolling Stone's French publisher. "We have nothing against Rolling Stone magazine or Bob Dylan as a singer," Maric said. "[But] you cannot equate Croatian [war] criminals with all Croats."
In 2010, Dylan played concerts both in Belgrade, Serbia and in Zagreb, Croatia. He previously visited Belgrade for a gig in 1991, just two weeks before Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia.In 2010, Dylan played concerts both in Belgrade, Serbia and in Zagreb, Croatia. He previously visited Belgrade for a gig in 1991, just two weeks before Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia.
Dylan was recently awarded France's Legion of Honour, the country's highest award.Dylan was recently awarded France's Legion of Honour, the country's highest award.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.