● Warning is given to a humorist who compared Netanyahu to a “nazi without a foreskin”
● You can make caricatures of Islam but not of the French Republic!
The latest Piers Morgan interview with Bassem Youssef has shown us how humour and sarcasm can make the viewers think, see the world differently and take another perspective on world issues.
France has always portrayed itself as a land of freedom of speech, with a great taste for satire, especially when it comes to certain religions.
Indeed, Christianity and now Islam have always been the targets of humourists and satirical newspapers, even when it was purely insulting and offensive, without any productive message to convey. As an example, everybody can recall the terrible caricatures of the Prophet of Islam, may peace be upon Him. Despite the many protests, they refused to withdraw them and some countries like Denmark or Norway even published them in solidarity with those “journalists”.
However, Guillaume Meurice, a famous humorist from Radio France Inter, perceived as being of the leftist media, received a warning from Sybile Veil, The Head of Radio France, after his joke of the 29th of October, comparing Benyamin Netanyahu to “a nazi without a foreskin”.
The humourist received a lot of hate messages as well as death threats and was, of course, accused of antisemitism.
Sybile Veil declared that the exercise of caricature was “a delicate and difficult one” and that “Guillaume Meurice had crossed the red line”. Therefore, she asked him to “take responsibility” and apologise, which he refused. As a consequence, she started disciplinary action against the journalist and gave him a formal warning.
It is surprising to hear that there is indeed a red line as Muslims, who complained about the caricatures insulting their religion, were told that there was no limit to “humour”. Not being able to accept that, was even against French values and a refusal of integration into French society. It seems the rule differs as soon as it concerns Israel and Zionists, as Guillaume Meurice is experiencing it right now.
This double standard is not new in France. Emmanuel Macron himself sued Mr. Fiori, a billboard owner, who posted a caricature of the French President, depicting him as Adolf Hitler, accompanied by the phrase: “Obey, get vaccinated”.
Surprised and shocked by the legal action started by the President, Mr. Fiori tweeted: “In Macron-land, showing the Prophet’s rear is satire, making fun of Macron as a dictator is blasphemy.”
He added that Mr Macron was suing him for “insult and incitement to hatred”. With more than 100 posters exposed so far, this is the first time that someone took legal action against him.
He was first condemned to pay €10,000 in August 2021. He appealed and was again condemned to pay €5,000 in January 2022 to finally be cleared of any wrongdoing in December 2022.
Lekto, a 32-year-old caricaturist also had to face justice. Back in June 2022 in the town of Avignon, he depicted Jacques Attali, a famous political adviser and economic theorist, manipulating President Macron as a puppet. He was accused of antisemitism by Jacques Attali as well as 7 other associations.
Lekto defended himself by explaining that his drawing had nothing to do with the origin of Mr Attali and that the caricature was based on the declaration of Mr Attali himself who stated: “Emmanuel Macron? I discovered him, I invented him!”
Following this lawsuit, Lekto was not able to work for 6 months, in fear of being stabbed or attacked. However, last July, he created another polemic by depicting Macron as Hitler with the mention “49.3” serving as the famous dictator’s moustache. He wanted to criticise the lack of democracy in France with the systematic use of the 49.3 article by the government. This article allows bills to be passed without having been voted for and it has been used 12 times under the current government.
The sacrality of the French Republic, only born in 1789 and mainly based on secularism, is not something new. Back in 2010, a man had won a competition organised by the FNAC in the town of Nice. The theme was “politically incorrect” and the winning photo showed a man wiping his bottom with the French flag.
Politicians got involved but could not sue the author. Indeed, the 2003 article forbidding any offence made to the symbols of France, whose sentence is €7,500 and 6 months in prison, can only be used if the infraction was made during a protest.
However, two employees of the FNAC in Nice lost their jobs and a new law was created: a €1,500 fine if you offend publicly the French flag.
France considers its president, its secularism, its flag and its many symbols as being sacred but refuses for its citizens to give the same level of sacrality to their respective beliefs and religions. Yet, the very purpose of secularism in its original law of 1905 was to avoid the interference of the state in religions. When it comes to Muslims, this law is being constantly violated in the name of…secularism itself!
