EJC President Welcomes Ban on Dieudonné Show: “To Remove a Platform for Hate is a Victory for Democracy”

“The Government of France and in particular, Interior Minister Manuel Valls, have shown immense bravery and vigilance in refusing to allow this anti-Semite to spread his hatred of Jews under the guise of entertainment.” Dieudonné, who has a number of convictions for racist incitement and who has publicly honored Holocaust deniers and far-Right leaders, was scheduled to perform in Nantes on Thursday. An initial attempt by the government to ban the show, the first of a series which Dieudonné is scheduled to perform around France, was initially ruled against in an appeal by the comedian.

However, this too was overturned after the government made an urgent appeal to the Council of State. “The French Government must remain vigilant and continue to deny a platform for Dieudonné to spread his hate,” Kantor said. “Democracy does not mean that everything is allowed and hate, racism and anti-Semitism should not fall under any cultural or comedic parameters in a civilized society.”