Dieudonne ! ....who? Free speech and censorship.

[PAB]

French comedian Dieudonne faces jail for antisemitism and glorifying terrorism.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

Personally iv'e come to defend this comedian.

The whole controversy brings up alot of relevant questions and alot of hypocrisy , regards free speech and censorship.

Things Dieudonne has said:

January 2002:

Racism was invented by Abraham. 'The Chosen People' is the beginning of racism [...] For me, the Jews, are a sect, a scam. It is one of the most serious because it's the first. Some Muslims take the same path when reviving concepts like the 'holy war'.

In 2007 France's court of cassation upheld a conviction against Dieudonné for racial slander over this comment.

February 2004:

'Dirty nigger, the Jews will have your skin,' I've heard this kind of slogans. They are all slave traders turned bankers, [converted to] the show-business and today to terrorist action they show supporting the policies of Ariel Sharon. Those who attack me have founded empires and fortunes on the slave trade and slavery.

The comment gained Dieudonné his first fine for promoting racial hatred, €5,000.

April 2010:

In France, the Holocaust has now become almost a dominant religion; it has even replaced Jesus Christ. We are obliged to accept this dogma.

Comment made during an interview with an Iranian television channel.

Alot of stupid comments with little meaningful content. But arrestable/fine-able offences ?

I went to youtube to watch some of his stand up. Apart from some of it being quite good, Iv'e seen more offensive material on the BBC (British broadcasting corp.).

My point, is where is the BNP (british national party) since appearing on national tv Question time. Nowhere.

 

[SpecialFrog]

My general view is that hate speech laws are frequently problematic and that pretty much anything other than direct incitements to violence shouldn't be a criminal offence.

With that said, this guy should expect to face personal and professional consequences for his odious public statements (e.g. people not wanting to work with him / promote his work, people criticizing his actions, etc).

And I suspect I would not enjoy his comedy.

 

[he_who_is_nobody]

February 2004:

'Dirty nigger, the Jews will have your skin,' I've heard this kind of slogans. They are all slave traders turned bankers, [converted to] the show-business and today to terrorist action they show supporting the policies of Ariel Sharon. Those who attack me have founded empires and fortunes on the slave trade and slavery.

The comment gained Dieudonné his first fine for promoting racial hatred, €5,000.

Are you kidding me?! I see worse on my Facebook feed on a daily bases (and half of that is from people I know). Europe is weird.

My general view is that hate speech laws are frequently problematic and that pretty much anything other than direct incitements to violence shouldn't be a criminal offence.

With that said, this guy should expect to face personal and professional consequences for his odious public statements (e.g. people not wanting to work with him / promote his work, people criticizing his actions, etc).

And I suspect I would not enjoy his comedy.

Oh, SpecialFrog, you are a skeptic after my own heart. I could not have said that better myself.