Comedian's jokes fall flat with Jewish community
A French comedian scheduled to perform at the Just for Laughs festival on Saturday is raising concerns within Montreal's Jewish community.
B'nai Brith Canada says Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala is known for anti-semitic rhetoric in his shows.
The comedian has already been convicted of racial defamation in France for accusing Jews of organizing a strong lobby and taking control of the media.
Dieudonné got into trouble in December after appearing on public television in France.
While dressed as an Orthodox Jew, he raised an arm in a Nazi salute and shouted "Isra-Heil". The stunt prompted tour promoters to cancel 11 following shows.
Festival 'dismissive' of complaints
B'nai Brith Canada is concerned the comedian's performance will incite hatred against Jews in Montreal, says Steven Slimovitch, national legal council for B'nai Brith.
"There is not just a question of insulting and poking fun at various groups but often, as the French court has said, it crosses the line and it ridicules to such an extent a particular group," Slimovitch says.
Festival organizers have already reacted to B'nai Brith's concerns, but Slimovitch says the festival's reaction was "dismissive" and "bizarre."
"They have said that Dieudonné's humour or his performance will further inter-religious understanding. I mean that's patently ridiculous," Slimovitch says.Slimovitch says B'nai Brith is not asking the festival to cancel the show but to warn Dieudonné to watch his language during the performance.
Festival president Gilbert Rozon says he's seen Dieudonné perform many times and doesn't qualify the shows as anti-semitic.
Dieudonné has performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in the past.
A Feb. 2004 BBC online news report said his show was banned by a Paris theatre amid allegations of anti-Semitism. The theatre cancelled the shows on safety grounds, saying it had received several threatening phone calls.
Dieudonné provoked protests after appearing on television dressed as an Orthodox Jew and making a Nazi salute.
The comedian has insisted that he parodies various religious, political and ethnic groups in a humorous way but without malice.