PARIS, (Reuters) – A top French court upheld a ban on the opening night show yesterday of a comedian whom the government accuses of insulting the memory of Holocaust victims.
The Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, issued its last-minute decision just one hour before the show by Dieudonne M’bala M’bala was to begin in the western city of Nantes.
The top court’s ruling came after Interior Minister Manuel Valls, who has been leading the effort to stop Dieudonne’s national tour, appealed a decision by a lower administrative court that rejected local authorities’ efforts to ban the show.
In its ruling, the Council of State – which has previously ruled against bans on Dieudonne performances – cited the risk to public order were the show to proceed.
“It’s a big relief,” said Valls after the decision.
Fans outside the theatre booed after hearing the news.
“We’re disappointed, we came for nothing,” one fan told BFM-TV. “Even if you don’t agree with what’s being said, everyone should be able to express themselves.”
Dieudonne’s lawyer, Jacques Verdier, has argued that a ban on his client performing would breach his freedom of speech.
Dieudonne, 46, has been repeatedly fined for hate speech and local authorities in Nantes had barred the show following the lead of other cities that did the same on the grounds of risk to public order.
