Articles


Controversial French comic put on notice

Posted On 07/22/04
By: Mike Cohen

MONTREAL — In the 22-year history of Montreal’s internationally famous Just For Laughs Festival, concerns regarding antisemitism and a peformer have never surfaced. That all changed last week when B’nai Brith Canada put French comic Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala, best known simply as “Dieudonne.” on notice.

Dieudonne, who performed in Montreal three times in the last week, gained notoriety and the ire of world Jewry when he raised a Nazi salute while dressed as an Orthodox Jew on a live television program in France last year. Despite being acquitted in Paris in May of charges of racial defamation, he was convicted of the same charge in Avignon in a separate case in which he had accused Jews, in comments published in the newspaper Le Monde, of “organizing a very strong lobby and taking control of the media.”

The intent of B’nai Brith’s intervention was to alert festival organizers about Dieudonne’s past improprieties and for them to be prepared to take action if any antisemitic material appeared in his act. Festival executives had responded earlier to a letter from B’nai Brith claiming that the comic’s humour would further interreligious understanding.

Just for Laughs reacted to the media onslaught brought on by B’nai Brith last Wednesday by calling a press conference. Dieudonne told a large assembly of media that he is misunderstood by Jewish interest groups. He defended himself as “a humanist and universalist” who doesn’t believe in ethnic or religious distinctions. He insisted he is anything but a racist.

“I’m a comic,” the 38-year-old performer said . “I know my style can shock, but that’s my right — the right to blaspheme. My job is to make people laugh, yes, about sensitive subjects ... and sometimes that can touch sentiments in the community that have been exacerbated by difficult times. But I’m just doing my job as a comic.”

Yoni Petel, B’nai Brith’s community relations director in Quebec, showed up at the press conference.

“Essentially Dieudonne and Festival President Gilbert Rozon were there to promote the show,” said Petel. “ However, unlike past similar events, this time the media present were not arts and culture reporters, but the news people. It was obvious that the PR guys were somewhat uncomfortable by this. We are not, nor were we ever, asking that the show be cancelled — we are merely seeking assurances that the show will not cross the line. Canada has a very specific legal framework, as well as a charter of rights, that prevent inciting hatred against minority groups and we want to ensure that the Festival — which is an important cultural landmark here in Montreal — is not used as a platform for hate speech.”

Dieudonne has been charged numerous times in French courts for inciting hatred and has even been convicted on more than one occasion. While most of those convictions have been overturned on appeal, there is still a standing conviction against him and his appeal is before the courts now. His shows have been cancelled many times in Europe, and in some instances such as a show he was supposed to perform in Geneva, he was only allowed to take the stage after signing a pledge not to incite hatred during his show. “We have repeatedly asked for a meeting with festival organizers, but they have so far refused to meet with us.” said Petel. “ Instead they are attempting to play on our legitimate concerns for the sake of publicity.”

B’nai Brith Canada National Legal Counsel Steven Slimovitch attended Dieudonne’s Saturday night performance for the direct purpose of monitoring it. Dieudonne stayed clear of any antisemitic material. “If nothing else we succeeded in pointing out that notwithstanding that comments may be made in a comedic presentation, inciting hatred is a serious matter,” said Slimovitch.

Slimovitch says B’nai Brith was disappointed by the festival’s response to their complaint. “We were shocked with their initial response to the effect that they did not see anything problematic and that his show would in fact foster better relations between minorities,” he said. “ Now that they have held their press conference we feel that the festival has been shown just how serious the matter is. We trust that we have done a service to all minorities by pointing out that words can in fact hurt And we must all be cognizant of the protection that must be given to minorities — inciting hatred even through a comedic sketch can be very hurtful to the target group, whomever they may be.”

The half-Cameroonian, half-Breton Dieudonne notes that he has won all but one of 17 cases brought against him. His Hitler salute moment came last December on France 3 TV. He referred to the “American-Zionist axis of good,” raised his arm in the Nazi salute and shouted “Isra-Heil!” At last week’s press conference he called the gag “burlesque,” not anti-Israeli.

In another sketch after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, he mocked Muslim extremists who promise suicide bombers sex with virgins in the afterlife. He has also castigated Roman Catholics.

“At a time when we too are experiencing dramatic increases in hate activity in Canada, we question why the festival would invite Dieudonne,” said B’nai Brith Canada Executive Vice-President Frank Dimant. “Why do we need the importation of French antisemitism into Canada?”

Rozon said that he has seen Dieudonne, perform several times. He commented the show is about “nationalism and racism in general ... I didn’t see anything antisemitic about it.” He went on to allude to his 9/11 sketch which he performed in Montreal. “It was replayed on television to seven million viewers and it did not provoke any negative reaction,” he said.

The Just For Laughs Festival was previously run by a Jew, Andy Nulman who still serves as a senior consultant. Willie Mercer occupies a similar role. Jodie Lieberman is the director of programming while Robbie Praw is the newest member of the head office team.

There are a wide array of Jewish performers each year. Jackie Mason, Freddy Roman and Bobby Slayton headline this year’s list. Roman anchors the ninth annual Bar Mitzvah Show, which consists exclusively of Jewish humour.

About B’nai Brith, Dieudonne said the group just claims to speak for Jews, when in fact no organization can stand for all members of a community. “I don’t believe they represent the Jews of Quebec,” he said. “Because there are lots of Quebec Jews who have come and told me ’Bravo! We can’t wait to come to your show!”