Fans protest as 'anti-Semitic' comedian's show is cancelled in France.
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Expectant fans protest outside the cancelled show of French comic
Dieudonne M’bala, whose performance has been judge to be anti-Semitic by a French court
The Telegraph.,,7:58AM GMT 10 Jan 2014
A controversial French comic was banned from performing in Nantes, just hours after a local court said he could go ahead with his show.
Conflicting rulings by French authorities over Dieudonne M'bala's act sowed widespread confusion and anger outside the theatre in the western city.
The tug-of-war over the show involved a multitude of authorities: the Council of State, the city of Nantes, a court in Nantes and Interior Minister Manuel Valls.
Valls wants Dieudonne kept off all stages in France, denouncing what he calls the "mechanics of hate" relayed by the comic.
The city of Nantes had banned the comic's performance, but a Nantes court overturned that ban earlier on Thursday.
Citing a risk to public safety, the Council banned the performance only two hours before the show was to begin.
It brushed aside claims that Dieudonne would change his show to avoid offensive language, and said a "serious risk" of "grave attacks" to fundamental French values could not be dismissed.
The 47-year-old comedian has been accused of inciting racial hatred or anti-Semitism in his shows.
He also has popularised the "quenelle" hand gesture, which has been criticised by the interior minister as an "inverted Nazi salute".
Dieudonne denies that his act and the "quenelle" gesture are anti-Semitic but has admitted to being anti-Zionist.
Thursday's legal drama may be just the beginning of a longer battle.
The Nantes show was to kick off a national tour.
At least eight of the nearly 30 French cities where the comic's tour is planned through June are known to have banned his performances.
Dieudonne has said he will fight them one by one.
Source APTN.
.
Expectant fans protest outside the cancelled show of French comic
Dieudonne M’bala, whose performance has been judge to be anti-Semitic by a French court
The Telegraph.,,7:58AM GMT 10 Jan 2014
A controversial French comic was banned from performing in Nantes, just hours after a local court said he could go ahead with his show.
Conflicting rulings by French authorities over Dieudonne M'bala's act sowed widespread confusion and anger outside the theatre in the western city.
The tug-of-war over the show involved a multitude of authorities: the Council of State, the city of Nantes, a court in Nantes and Interior Minister Manuel Valls.
Valls wants Dieudonne kept off all stages in France, denouncing what he calls the "mechanics of hate" relayed by the comic.
The city of Nantes had banned the comic's performance, but a Nantes court overturned that ban earlier on Thursday.
Citing a risk to public safety, the Council banned the performance only two hours before the show was to begin.
It brushed aside claims that Dieudonne would change his show to avoid offensive language, and said a "serious risk" of "grave attacks" to fundamental French values could not be dismissed.
The 47-year-old comedian has been accused of inciting racial hatred or anti-Semitism in his shows.
He also has popularised the "quenelle" hand gesture, which has been criticised by the interior minister as an "inverted Nazi salute".
Dieudonne denies that his act and the "quenelle" gesture are anti-Semitic but has admitted to being anti-Zionist.
Thursday's legal drama may be just the beginning of a longer battle.
The Nantes show was to kick off a national tour.
At least eight of the nearly 30 French cities where the comic's tour is planned through June are known to have banned his performances.
Dieudonne has said he will fight them one by one.
Source APTN.
