Reino Unido proíbe entrada de Dieudonné. Dieudonné M'bala M'bala: French 'quenelle' comedian banned from UK / The Guardian.

Reino Unido proíbe entrada de Dieudonné M'bala M'bala

publicado em 4 Fev 2014 in ( jornal) i online

Comediante é acusado de anti-semitismo pelo governo francês

O controverso comediante francês Dieudonné M'bala M'bala foi incluído na lista de personalidades cuja entrada no Reino Unido é proibida, no dia em que M'bala pretendia dar um espectáculo de stand-up em Nyon e dar uma conferência de imprensa de apoio ao fute- bolista e amigo Nicolas Anelka.

Em comunicado, o Ministério do Interior do Reino Unido disse "confirmar que o Sr. Dieudonné foi sujeito a uma ordem de exclusão", sem avançar mais pormenores. A meio da tarde de ontem, uma fonte do governo britânico avançou à AFP sob anonimato que "a razão para a ordem de exclusão é que ele planeava vir para o Reino Unido".

Há várias semanas no olho do furacão, Dieudonné é acusado pelo ministro francês do Interior, Manuel Valls, de fazer comentários "anti- -semitas" e "racistas" nos seus espectáculos.

A conferência de imprensa que o comediante francês de 47 anos estava a organizar em solo britânico surgiu depois de Anelka ter sido acusado pela Associação de Futebol do país de "anti-semitismo" por fazer, durante um jogo, o gesto "quenelle", popularizado por Dieudonné e que Valls diz ser uma "saudação nazi invertida".

Dieudonné M'bala M'bala: French 'quenelle' comedian banned from UK

Home Office warns border officials not to let controversial comic into UK to support Nicolas Anelka in 'quenelle' gesture hearing

Kim Willsher in Paris

The Guardian, Monday 3 February 2014 / http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/dieudonne-banned-uk-nicolas-anelka-quenelle

The controversial French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala has been banned from entering Britain after several of his shows were cancelled in France.

Dieudonné had said he would travel to the UK to support his friend, footballer Nicolas Anelka, who is facing a disciplinary hearing after performing a "quenelle" – an allegedly antisemitic gesture – during a Premier League match.

The Home Office has declared the performer persona non grata and warned he will not be allowed into the country. It has alerted airlines, other transport companies and border officials that the performer, whose stage name is Dieudonné, is an "excluded" individual. A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Mr Dieudonné is subject to an exclusion order. The home "Several of Dieudonné's shows were banned in France last month at the start of a 22-date tour, amid fears that his stereotypical portrait of Jews and mocking of the Holocaust were a risk to public order.

Dieudonné fans and civil liberties campaigners accused the French government of attacking free speech and of censorship. The comedian rewrote his shows dropping the most offensive material.

Anelka, a striker with West Bromwich Albion, has been charged by the Football Association after performing a quenelle when he scored a goal against West Ham on 28 December. The 34-year-old player said he was expressing his support for his friend Dieudonné, who claims to have invented the gesture, described by some as an inverted Nazi salute.

Dieudonné, who has convictions for inciting racial hatred through his in antisemitic jokes and comments, insists the gesture is simply anti-establishment. However, he has failed to distance himself from groups and individuals who have posted photographs of themselves doing the quenelle outside synagogues, Holocaust memorials, Jewish schools and even at the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

Anelka has insisted that he is "neither antisemitic or racist". The FA hearing is not expected before the end of February.

The document outlining the ban on Dieudonné was leaked to the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. It states that the 47-year-old comic "should not be carried to the UK". It warned transport carriers they faced a fine of up to £10,000 if they allow him to travel to Britain, and stated: "The above-named has been excluded from the UK at the direction of the secretary of state on 31 January 2014. Carriers required to provide data to e-Borders will be refused authority to carry him to the UK He is not eligible for carriage. If he travels he will be denied entry at the UK border."

France's interior minister, Manuel Valls, who supported the ban on Dieudonné's shows, said he was no longer artistic or funny but engaged in the "mechanics of hate". He said: "We cannot tolerate antisemitism, historical revisionism and racism, and the highest jurisdiction in our country has agreed."

Dieudonné was questioned by police two weeks ago after a bailiff who arrived at the comedian's home to serve a writ claimed he was attacked. The comedian is at the centre of several official and police inquiries after allegations of unpaid fines, the "fraudulent organisation of bankruptcy", and a claim that he incited racial hatred after making antisemitic remarks about radio presenter Patrick Cohen.

During one of his shows Dieudonné told the audience: "When I hear Patrick Cohen speak, I tell myself, you know, the gas chambers … a pity."