French court overturns ban on comic accused of insulting Holocaust victims

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/09/french-court-comic-dieudonne-mbala-mbala-holocaust

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A French court has thrown out efforts by authorities to ban a show by a comedian whom the government accuses of insulting the memory of Holocaust victims.

The interior minister, Manuel Valls, who has been leading the effort to stop a national tour by the comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, said he would appeal against the ruling.

Local authorities in Nantes had barred the opening date of Dieudonné's tour, following the lead of other cities which also banned his shows on the grounds of risk to public order.

His lawyer Jacques Verdier said the court had suspended the ban, describing the ruling as a "total and complete victory" for his client, who argued that his right to freedom of expression was being breached.

The decision of the court is not only a setback for the president, François Hollande, who said regional prefects should remain "on alert and inflexible" in determining whether or not to ban the shows, but also for Valls, who polls show is France's most popular politician for his tough law-and-order stance.

Critics say the comic's trademark straight-arm gesture is a Nazi salute in reverse. Dieudonné, 46, says it is anti-Zionist and anti-establishment, but not antisemitic.

Dieudonné has been repeatedly fined for hate speech.

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