I debated whether to discuss this subject or not, because I did not want to give stage to the despicable ideas of the comedian who, sorry to say, is no longer making anyone laugh. Therefore I do not intend to touch on Dieudonn M'Bala M'Bala's verbal attack on a French journalist or his hand gesture known as the "quenelle" -- both clear expressions of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. I also do not intend to discuss the Jewish conspiracy myth, from which he makes a living.
Dieudonn 's provocations certainly cannot be seen as some type of viewpoint, and even less so as a success; they are racist and anti-Semitic crimes, strictly condemned and punishable by law.
In this regard I would like to point out the work being done in conjunction in France between the state and the justice system to fight this form of incitement. France has shown it is strong and determined, and we should be happy about this.
On Jan. 6, after denouncing Dieudonn 's "show," French Interior Minister Manuel Valls publicized a decree stipulating the means at the disposal of French mayors and police to prevent such shows, in which the dissemination of such content is deemed a criminal offense with intent. Then, on Jan. 9, France's Council of State issued the irregular decision to define Dieudonn 's actions as "severely harming the values and principles stated by the human rights charter and the republican traditions of France." The decision bans the existence of any show "that justifies acts of discrimination, persecution and destruction perpetrated during World War II," and which "harms human dignity" and "national unity."
This is an unequivocal ruling by France's highest administrative court, stating that freedom of expression -- the most basic of principles passionately defended by France -- does not apply to cases of racial incitement and hate speech. In France there will be no room for intolerance. My country is not racist and is not anti-Semitic. President Francois Hollande made this clear on Dec. 16, the 70th anniversary of the establishment of CRIF (the representative council of French Jewish institutions), when he said: "Anti-Semitism is not the problem of the Jewish community, rather of all the citizens of France." Hollande used the occasion to explicitly direct his government to "fight those who masquerade as comedians, but are merely certified anti-Semites."
The French government is determined, today more than ever, to fight the scourge of anti-Semitism, in all its forms and anywhere it appears. For this purpose France has equipped itself with powerful legal tools to combat this phenomenon, including on the Internet. France will not allow "propagators of hate" to exploit the principles of liberty and tolerance for nefarious purposes. Just as the interior minister said, we must "break the mechanism of hatred."
Patrick Maisonneuve is France's ambassador to Israel.
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