French comedian Dieudonné guilty of racial discrimination, top court confirms
French comedian Dieudonné has lost his appeal at Switzerland's top court.
Keystone / Laurent Gillieron
Switzerland’s Federal Court has confirmed the conviction of French comedian Dieudonné for racial discrimination over remarks he made in Switzerland denying the existence of gas chambers in the Holocaust.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/RTS/jc
In a ruling published on Friday, the top Swiss court threw out Dieudonné’s appeal, saying he could not justify the remarks as freedom of expression. “To state that ‘the gas chambers never existed’ is tantamount to denying or grossly minimising the Holocaust,” it said. The remarks therefore fall within the scope of Swiss criminal law which says that anyone who denies, grossly minimises or seeks to justify genocide or other crimes against humanity is punishable.
The initial complaint against Dieudonné was brought by the Coordination against Anti-semitism and Defamation (CICAD) organisation in 2019. He was sentenced in 2021 to a financial penalty of CHF170 ($191) for 180 days (CHF30,600) plus related court costs – a common method of setting financial sanctions in Switzerland. This was confirmed by a Geneva appeals court in May last year, but Dieudonné took it up to the Federal Court.
CICAD lawyer Philippe Grumbach said he was “very satisfied” with the Federal Court verdict. “It is an essential decision that confirms the place of freedom of expression under the law, but also its limits,” he commented.
The comic has a string of convictions for inciting hatred against Jews and is the inventor of the controversial “quenelle” hand gesture. In France and Belgium he has paid tens of thousands of euros in fines for racial slander, defamation and hate speech.
Popular Stories
More
Climate solutions
Switzerland turns train tracks into solar power plants
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Swiss parliament rejects national microchipping scheme for cats
This content was published on
Switzerland should not introduce a nationwide mandatory microchip scheme for cats. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives rejected such an idea by 108 votes to 80.
Sharp rise in reported cyber incidents in Switzerland
This content was published on
The number of reported cyber incidents and online threats in Switzerland rose sharply last year, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Swiss National Bank ‘ready to consider’ negative interest rates
This content was published on
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is prepared to lower its key interest rate even further in the face of economic uncertainty, Chair Martin Schlegel said on Tuesday.
Toxic chemicals from car tyres found in fruit and vegetables in Switzerland
This content was published on
Tyre additives are transferred into the food chain, according to a new study in Switzerland. Further research is needed to establish the dangers for human health.
Swiss pensioner in court for feeding neighbour’s cat
This content was published on
A 68-year-old Swiss woman is in court in Zurich on Tuesday, accused of systematically feeding her neighbour's cat "Leo" - a criminal offence in Switzerland - so that the cat no longer wanted to go home.
SWISS flights to Tel Aviv remain suspended until May 11
This content was published on
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has cancelled all flights to and from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv until May 11 after a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels landed near the airport.
Ministers discuss Swiss-EU deal with Italy and Hungary
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis held talks on Monday with their respective counterparts from Italy and Hungary.
Swiss court sentences French comedian for anti-semitic sketch
This content was published on
Dieudonné M’bala M’bala was found guilty of using racist content in shows performed in Switzerland, including denying the existence of Nazi gas chambers.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.