Wednesday, October 21, 2015

France: Marine Le Pen goes on trial for comparing Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation of France

Meanwhile in Sweden, just a couple of days ago, Muslims openly chanted "slaughter the Jews".
(Telegraph) Marine Le Pen stood trial on Tuesday over comments made five years ago in which the far-right Front National leader compared Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation of France.

Arriving at the Lyon court where she is charged with inciting racial hatred, Ms Le Pen said that she had “committed no crime” and that the court case had been politically timed to take place weeks before regional elections.

“Street prayers are illegal. It is a means of seizing a territory to impose a religious law. I am within my rights as a political leader to bring up such a fundamental subject – it’s even a duty to do so,” she told a scrum of reporters.

Marine Le Pen sits in court with Front National chief candidate in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Christophe BoudotMarine Le Pen sits in court with Front National chief candidate in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Christophe Boudot Photo: EPA Ms Le Pen faces up to a year in prison and a fine of €45,000 (£33,000) if found guilty.

However in a coup for Ms Le Pen, the prosecutor called for an acquittal.

"Ms Le Pen, by denouncing these prayers in the public space, which did not refer to the entire Muslim community but to a minority, only exercised her freedom of expression," Bernard Reynaud, the prosecutor said.

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