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Court overturns ban on French comic Dieudonne Court overturns ban on French comic Dieudonne
(about 2 hours later)
A French court has overturned a ban on a show by controversial comic Dieudonne M'bala M'bala due to be performed on Thursday night. Police have deployed outside a theatre in the French city of Nantes where a controversial comic is due to appear after a ban on his show was overturned.
The show in the city of Nantes will open Dieudonne's tour. Dieudonne M'bala M'bala has arrived at the theatre, where he is due to perform in front of more than 5,000 people.
He has seven convictions for anti-Semitic hate speech and was recently recorded making anti-Semitic remarks about a Jewish journalist. The comedian has seven convictions for anti-Semitic hate speech.
Interior Minister Manuel Valls has said he will appeal to the Council of State, France's highest administrative court. Interior Minister Manuel Valls said he would appeal to France's highest court, the Council of State, after a judge in Nantes overturned the ban.
The court's decision "has not exhausted legal options" in the case, Mr Valls said. The Council of State is reportedly due to give a decision at 17:00 on Thursday (16:00 GMT), with the possibility that the show may yet be prevented from going ahead. French media say the court's ruling could be announced after the theatre opens its doors for the performance, due to begin at 20:20 (19:20 GMT).
A statement from the court in Nantes said it did not regard the show, entitled The Wall, as having "an attack on human dignity as its main object", the AFP agency reports. The judge in Nantes said he did not regard the show, entitled The Wall, as having "an attack on human dignity as its main object".
In a reflection of the comedian's popularity in spite of his notoriety, 5,000 tickets had already reportedly been sold for the Nantes performance. The verdict is a big victory for Dieudonne, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.
Thursday's court verdict is a big victory for Dieudonne, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.
On his Facebook page, the comic posted simply: "We have won!"On his Facebook page, the comic posted simply: "We have won!"
Controversial gesture Roger Cukierman, the head of French Jewish organisation CRIF, called the judge's decision "lamentable" while the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, urged the government to keep battling.
"France has no choice but to confront this preacher of hate head on," Mr Lauder said.
'Peddlers of hate'
French media who have sent reporters to previous performances of the The Wall say it contained a string of derogatory references to Jews.French media who have sent reporters to previous performances of the The Wall say it contained a string of derogatory references to Jews.
The French government has made a concerted effort to stop the tour after Dieudonne was recorded making remarks about Jewish journalist Patrick Cohen. The French government made a concerted effort to stop the tour after Dieudonne was recorded making remarks about Jewish journalist Patrick Cohen.
"When I hear him talking, I say to myself: Patrick Cohen, hmm... the gas chambers… what a shame," Dieudonne was recorded as saying."When I hear him talking, I say to myself: Patrick Cohen, hmm... the gas chambers… what a shame," Dieudonne was recorded as saying.
He has also been accused of deriding Holocaust survivors and victims in his material.He has also been accused of deriding Holocaust survivors and victims in his material.
Dieudonne's lawyer said banning the show would be a clear breach of the principle of free expression, and that contrary to government claims, there was no evidence that his performances were a threat to public order.Dieudonne's lawyer said banning the show would be a clear breach of the principle of free expression, and that contrary to government claims, there was no evidence that his performances were a threat to public order.
President Francois Hollande had earlier urged French officials to enforce an order authorising the ban on the show.President Francois Hollande had earlier urged French officials to enforce an order authorising the ban on the show.
On Monday, Mr Valls said he had advised city mayors and police prefects that Dieudonne's show could be banned if it was deemed to present a threat to public order.On Monday, Mr Valls said he had advised city mayors and police prefects that Dieudonne's show could be banned if it was deemed to present a threat to public order.
Speaking on Thursday from Brittany, he condemned the "mechanics of hate". "Peddlers of hate stop at nothing and show boundless creativity," he said. "Faced with this creativity of hate, should we do nothing? Certainly not. The status quo is not a solution."
Dieudonne remains booked to play at a series of French venues until June, although the cities of Bordeaux and Marseille have cancelled his performances.Dieudonne remains booked to play at a series of French venues until June, although the cities of Bordeaux and Marseille have cancelled his performances.
He denies his trademark "quenelle" gesture is an inverted Nazi salute, instead describing it as an anti-establishment sign. He denies his trademark quenelle gesture is an inverted Nazi salute, instead describing it as an anti-establishment sign.
It made headlines in the UK in late December when used by West Bromwich Albion footballer Nicolas Anelka during a goal celebration.It made headlines in the UK in late December when used by West Bromwich Albion footballer Nicolas Anelka during a goal celebration.
The striker said the gesture had been "a dedication to Dieudonne", not an anti-Semitic salute.The striker said the gesture had been "a dedication to Dieudonne", not an anti-Semitic salute.