FRANCE-POLITICS/LE PEN UPDATE Verbal row erupts on sidelines of Le Pen trial over accusations of inciting racial hatred

Record ID: 135997

  • Title: FRANCE-POLITICS/LE PEN UPDATE Verbal row erupts on sidelines of Le Pen trial over accusations of inciting racial hatred
  • Date: 20th October 2015
  • Summary: LYON, FRANCE (OCTOBER 20, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ***WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SHOUTING OUTSIDE COURTROOM: "You are not in France here, go back home with your burqas." (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN IN WHITE JACKET AND FRENCH CITIZEN OF NORTHERN AFRICAN ORIGIN, LILA, SAYING: UN
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8TQAUH7WG9TWJTEBARMWP0PO6
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE EDIT CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME IN SHOT 3
    The divisions many commentators say the National Front is provoking in French society were visible outside the courtroom shortly after leader Marine Le Pen appeared in court on Tuesday (October 20) over accusations of inciting racial hatred for statements she made comparing Muslim street prayers to Nazi occupation.
    Two French women, including one of Northern African origin, had a vigourous exchange inside the Lyon courthouse.
    "Go back home with your burqas," said an elderly woman who couldn't be identified by reporters on the ground. "You are dogs, you are barbaric," she added.
    Facing her, Lila, a French citizen of Northern African origin, brandished her French identity card.
    "It's only going to get worse. Already, when there's a problem it's the Muslims' fault, today it's even worse. I find really sad that in 2015 we can be called 'a dog', it's really sad. It's like living in the Middle Ages," Lila told journalists.
    "She calls for the division of France. France is one country, we don't want two or three Frances, we want one country. Every citizen has duties but also rights. We never think about destroying France, on the contrary, we always want to help France overcome its problems," said a member of the public.
    Le Pen, who polls say is likely to win a regional election in December, said the government was using the judiciary to persecute her upon her arrival to the courthouse.
    She has tried to broaden the far-right National Front's appeal since she took over in 2011 from her father and party founder Jean-Marie.
    He was convicted several times of inciting racial hatred and his daughter has made efforts to distance herself from him.
    But in a meeting in 2010, Le Pen - whose party thrives on concerns over immigration and radical Islam - criticized Muslims praying in the streets when mosques are full.
    "The French government, through its president, the government, the prime minister and the justice minister launched a total war against the National Front because of how much they are afraid of the results of the regional elections. It is of course not a surprise that this trial is taking place one month before those elections. They (members of the French government) say on every media outlet that they will do all they can - and they insist by saying all that is in their power - to prevent the National Front from winning regions, well using the justice, judicial orchestration, is part of it," she said after she addressed judges.
    At a rally in 2010, she had said: "I'm sorry, but for those who really like to talk about World War Two, if we're talking about occupation, we could talk about that (street prayers), because that is clearly an occupation of the territory."
    She was charged with "incitement to discrimination over people's religious beliefs".
    The case has had many twists and turns and had initially been put aside by judges in December but anti-racism groups filed a new complaint.
    "If I were to be convicted I would appeal but if I were to be convicted this would provoke such indignation among French people that I think the associations would regret having engaged into this judicial process," she told reporters before leaving.
    Public prosecutor Bernard Reynaud called for the charges to be dropped, saying Le Pen should not be convicted, as her comments can be considered as "shocking" but "belong to freedom of speech".
    It was unclear when a ruling would be made. Judges are free to decide whether or not to follow the prosecutor's recommendations.
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