Dieudonné orchestrates secret shows in Brittany, evading the prefect's restrictive orders
In the latest turn of events, French comedian Dieudonné has been met with more bans on his performances due to his history of antisemitism and hate speech.
On July 25th, Dieudonné's show in Lestrem was interrupted by gendarmes, marking a pattern of venue changes for the comedian. The comedian's latest creation, "Friday 13th", has been criticized for its outrageous, hateful, conspiratorial, homophobic, transphobic, and antisemitic remarks.
Dieudonné's association with the "quenelle" gesture, considered an antisemitic symbol, has further heightened scrutiny and legal actions against him and his performances. This controversial figure has been convicted for racial insults, antisemitism, incitement to hatred, and abuse of social goods or tax fraud.
In 2018 and 2019, Dieudonné organized shows disguised as theater workshops and sales to circumvent hall rental rejections in Roubaix, La Chapelle-d'Armentières, and Marcq-en-Barœul. A similar ban prevented Dieudonné from performing in Dunkerque, causing him to move the venue.
Recently, Dieudonné announced another show for August 9th, 30 kilometers from Lorient, without providing details. However, the prefectures of Finistère and Morbihan have already banned his show since last Tuesday due to a risk of public disorder, radicalization, and remarks that could harm human dignity.
The prefecture of Rennes has yet to indicate whether it will pursue judicial proceedings against Dieudonné for his show on August 8. The performance took place in a private home in Sens-de-Bretagne, Ille-et-Vilaine, and was attended by about 150 spectators.
Despite the ongoing legal issues, Dieudonné was sentenced to 200 days of fines for receiving stolen goods in July 2021. The comedian also performed again in Eybens (Isère) the next day, August 27, in violation of a prefecture ban.
A local prefecture issued a ban for the new venue, but the details are not provided in the article. Dieudonné has a history of organizing shows in violation of prefecture and local authority bans.
While the focus of the legal controversies remains on hate speech and antisemitic acts, there is no verified information in the current data about Dieudonné facing charges specifically related to abuse of social goods or tax fraud.
In light of the ongoing controversy, French authorities have been active in regulating Dieudonné's performances due to his involvement in policy-and-legislation, politics, and crime-and-justice issues.
General-news outlets have reported an increase in bans on Dieudonné's shows, including the bans in Finistère and Morbihan, owing to concerns about public disorder, radicalization, and remarks that could harm human dignity.
