Top French court upholds original ban on Dieudonné M'bala M'bala after lower court ruled performance could go aheadA top French court has upheld a ban on the opening night show of Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, a comedian who is known by his stage name Dieudonné and whom the government accuses of insulting the memory of Holocaust victims, according to the text of its ruling.
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. He has been repeatedly fined for hate speech.
The French interior minister, Manuel Valls, had been leading the effort to stop the comedian's national tour but a lower court overturned the ban earlier on Thursday. Valls immediately appealed against the ruling.
Judges in the Council of State, France's highest administrative court, decided on Thursday to maintain the ban on the comedian performing the first night of his national tour in the western city of Nantes, despite a challenge by his lawyers saying his freedom of expression had been breached.
Source: Reuters
Comment: Further Updates***
18:45 CETFrench riot police are positioned at the Conseil d'État at the Palais du Justice in Paris in anticipation of supporters of Dieudonné protesting there.
20:00 CETIt's interesting to note that the Council of State is France's Supreme Court, but unlike the Supreme Court in the US, where permanent members adjudicate cases that bring up constitutional issues, France's Supreme Court has several functions, including as 'legal advisor' to the government. In this role, it is presided over by the Prime Minister, the Vice-President and other members of the government.
In upholding the French government's ban, the Conseil d'État functioned as an appellate court, and was composed of just one judge, Bernard Stirn, great-grand-nephew of Alfred Dreyfus.
20:10 CETAccording to Dieudonné's Facebook page, this decision has been handed down at the very last minute. Thousands of spectators are already at the venue, Dieudonné is inside and has asked to be allowed outside to address the crowd but the police won't let him. The authorities are requesting that people return to their homes and Dieudonné has also pleaded with them to remain calm and sing the
Marseillaise...
20:20 CETDieudonné is now also asking that people to return to their homes following reports that violence has broken out...
Spoiling for a fight: The French govt mobilized hundreds of militarized police to 'ensure' public order
Thousands of spectators were disappointed to learn that the French govt has no sense of humor
20:30 CETIn another Facebook update, Dieudonné has again asked people to calmly leave the scene, explaining that a violent confrontation is what the government is looking for:
22:30 CETDieudonné fans left the Zenith arena in Nantes peacefully, chanting the
Marseillaise. The comedian is set to release a video message via his
YouTube channel tomorrow, 10th January 2013.
Dieudonne's friend and colleague, French Jewish comedian 'Jacky', explains the situation to the waiting fans.
Somebody book this guy now, ASAP!
Surely he could perform in the U.S. of A. to the amusement of us all.
Couldn't he? Let's find out! It'll be a hoot!
Have a nice day...