Controversial French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala is facing a ban by French authorities, who say he has gone "too far" in promoting anti-Semitism and holocaust denial. Dieudonné has a long history of anti-Semitic comments and performances - from branding "the Jews" as "a sect, a fraud", and referring to Holocaust commemorations as "memorial pornography"; to appearing on stage dressed as a hareidi Jew making a Nazi salute. He has also popularized the "quenelle" gesture - sometimes referred to as a "reverse Nazi salute" - which consists of a lowered straight arm salute with the other arm folded across the shoulder. Although his supporters say it is merely "anti-establishment", it is frequently used by French anti-Semites, many of whom photograph themselves making the "modified" Nazi salute in front of Jewish establishments, holocaust memorial sites and even with unsuspecting Jewish passersby. The phenomenon has become popular with a wide range of extremists - from Neo-Nazis to Islamists and far-left anti-Israel activists - reflecting Dieudonné's own political career at the fringes of French politics: having started off in far-left circles, the divisive comedian recently established connections with the far-right French National Front. The most recent allegations against Dieudonné came when a hidden camera recorded him making anti-Semitic comments during a performance at his theater. Referring to French Jewish radio journalist Patrick Cohen, he said "Me, you see, when I hear Patrick Cohen speak, I think to myself: 'Gas chambers…too bad [they no longer exist]'," according to France 24. The outrageous comments were broadcast on France 2 TV earlier this month, triggering outrage by Jewish and anti-racism groups, and prompting Radio France, which Cohen works for, to report Dieudonné for engaging in "openly anti-Semitic speech". But the fallout has continued, with French Interior Minister Manuel Valls releasing a statement in which he said he would seek to ban Dieudonné's performances altogether. "Despite a conviction for public defamation, hate speech and racial discrimination, Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala no longer seems to recognize any limits," the statement, read, according to France 24 . "Consequently, the interior minister has decided to thoroughly examine all legal options that would allow a ban on Dieudonné’s public gatherings, which no longer belong to the artistic domain, but rather amount to a public safety risk." Earlier in the day Valls told the Le Parisien newspaper that he "will do anything to prevent Dieudonne from campaigning for anti-Semitism and racism", and slammed the quenelle gesture as "anti-Semitic". Roger Cukierman, who heads CRIF, an organization which represents French Jewry, lauded the proposed ban as long overdue in an interview with French television. "It’s a step in the right direction, because if we continue letting him do as he pleases, violence could result," he told the i>TELE channel. "It’s time to silence him. He’s no longer a comic; he has become a peddler of hate." Anti-Semitism in France has skyrocketed in recent years, causing many French Jews to leave the country. A report found anti-Semitic incidents rose 58% in 2012, with most attributed to Muslim extremists. That year saw the infamous Toulouse shooting in 2012 in which a rabbi and 3 Jewish children were murdered in a shooting-spree by a French Muslim extremist. The Israeli government recently announced a program to help French Jews emigrate to Israel on a large scale. The rampant anti-Semitism has also prompted some Jews to take matters into their own hands. Earlier this week, 6 members of the French Jewish Defense League (known as the Ligue de Defense Juive or LDJ) were arrested on charges of tracking down - and then beating up - neo-Nazis who posted online photos of themselves making quenelle salutes and other anti-Semitic gestures. The developments come as a high-profile French soccer player and friend of Dieudonné has come under fire for making the quenelle gesture during a game for his British club on Saturday. Nicholas Anelka made the anti-Semitic salute as he celebrated scoring a goal for West Bromwich Albion against West Ham during a British Premier League game. He has previously been photographed making the gesture with Dieudonné himself.
