It could be a sequel to her role in Jean-Luc Godard’s film Contempt. Actress Brigitte Bardot has contempt for Muslims, homosexuals, immigrants and many others. It is quite a list and few people would frankly care much about what the aging starlet thinks about such subjects. However, in France, it appears to be a crime. Bardot was convicted this week of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France. It is another example of the assault against free speech in Western countries. The punishment of such views is even more outrageous than the views themselves.
Ba
A Paris court also handed down a $23,325 fine against the former screen siren and animal rights campaigner. The court also ordered Bardot to pay $1,555 in damages to MRAP.
Bardot’s lawyer, Francois-Xavier Kelidjian, said he would talk to her about the possibility of an appeal.
A leading French anti-racism group known as MRAP filed a lawsuit last year over a letter she sent to then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. The remarks were published in her foundation’s quarterly journal.
In the December 2006 letter to Sarkozy, now the president, Bardot said France is “tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts.”
Bardot, 73, was referring to the Muslim feast of Aid el-Kebir, celebrated by slaughtering sheep.
French anti-racism laws prevent inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. Bardot had been convicted four times previously for inciting racial hatred.
“She is tired of this type of proceedings,” he said. “She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced in her defense of animal rights.”
“Bardot was convicted this week of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France”
and ruling the country.
“It is another example of the assault against free speech in Western countries.”
It is hardly an “assault” since Brigitte Bardot has been convicted in the name of a 130 years old law.
“The punishment of such views is even more outrageous than the views themselves.”
Really? Claiming that Jews are ruling the country and detroying its culture is less outrageous than a $23,325 fine?
ethanoliskillingus:
They’re right next to the bin of M-16’s we dropped in Hanoi. All countries lose wars, conservatives just never admit it when it’s their own. If Lafayette knew guys like you were coming down the pipe, he’d have stayed on his Estate, and you’d be worried about sharing some high priced tea with Royal Dragoons in your living room. What an ingrate!
Lots of used WW2 firearms for sale advertised as only dropped once – by a French soldier.
When will Liberals fly to France and demand they honor free speech?
Whooliebacon and rcampbell,
Mais oui!
Jill
Nixon, pulled the country out
This statement ignores that fact that, on Kissinger’s advice
(confirmed by White House tapes), Nixon, like GW Bush, allowed the conflict to rage on for a couple of deadly years after their decision to pull out purely for political convenience and electoral gains. And, BTW, it was Eisenhower who sent in the first “advisors” (CIA operatives) and the anti-Viet Nam war elements of the country were only and always liberals, never conservatives. This likely includes some on this board. It certainly includes this poster.
Jill
Gotta give J an apology. I was reacting to badger’s statement.
The roots of the Viet Nam war go back to Truman.
Premise is that the Republican mantra of free markets is the basis of all their political actions. Free markets…economic exploitation of foreign countries natural resources through force when necessary.
Take your pick of cover stories. Threat of communism, domino theory, human rights, regime change, sanctions, Democracy, WMD, Islamofascism and my all time favorite liberals.
whooliebacon,
In some ways I must agree with J. If by “pulled out” J. means weaseled, then I agree. I do think some actions of Kennedy (both JFK and Bobby) could be called right wing. That is, Bobby approved the assination attempt on Castro planned by his brother. JFK taped himself laughing about who he should assisanate next. All the presidents in modern times have used the FBI and CIA as their own tools of power, culminating in the madness of king george and dick. So I would say J. is somewhat correct although the whole story is much more complicated than any neo-CON will admit!
Jill
J,
Right out of the NeoCon revisionist history.
whooliebacon,
yep, JFK and LBJ were right-wing….
it was actually democratic administrations that led the country into Vietnam. A Republican, Nixon, pulled the country out. (though he himself turned out to be not such a great guy).
The French warned us off Viet Nam.
Our right-wing breathern, of course, never listen. Too busy shouting down facts.
badger:
Don’t trip on that flag straight-jacket of yours. You don’t really rise any higher by cutting down the taller trees. Btw I have no idea which Country is “better,” or “stronger,” or “smarter,” or even “whose daddy can beat up whose daddy,” and neither do you, since we have no criteria to evaluate the questions. I thought we sort of gave up all of that foolishness in the fourth grade–at least we liberals did.
But the French are so much better people than Americans – anyway that is what liberals keep telling us.