Bardot Convicted of Promoting Racial Hatred in France

Former French film star Brigitte Bardot has been convicted of provoking discrimination and racial hatred by writing that Muslims were destroying France.

A Paris court has fined her €15,000 and ordered her to pay €1,000 in damages to two anti-racist groups.

Bardot, who is an animal rights activist, had criticised a Muslim feast which is celebrated by slaughtering sheep.

Brigitte Bardot was convicted Tuesday of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France.

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.

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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. {snip}

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