Emir of Racism

"Creative freedom is certainly important. But in the case of Dieudonne, it's about hate. And the responsibility of a minister is to say, 'Stop, that's enough'. 
"'That's enough' precisely because he's having success on the Internet and in his show and his audience members need to have a realization."
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls

"I have the sense that I'm just an intermediary, today, between the people and this little handful of slave-driving rulers. The quenelle movement is reaching the summit. We're at the heart of everyone's attention: TV, radio, press, 'La quenelle! La quenelle!'"
Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala

Dieudonne, as he appears to be popularly known, is defended by his lawyer who claims that the influential comic "disapproves" when the salute he introduced in 2005 to the French public is used to promote anti-Semitism. The impression that his lawyer seeks to leave that his client is not the least inspired by anti-Semitism somehow loses in impact by Dieudonne's own expressions.

Where, for example, he feels it a great pity that a Jewish journalist hadn't perished in "the gas chambers". An expression of anguished disappointment that must certainly qualify under French law as an "incitement to racial hatred" regardless, the man's lawyer, Jacques Verdier would have it that his client is misunderstood. Despite his client's undisguised delight at his growing infamy celebrity.

He appears very well understood indeed by his many fans who appear mostly to have emigrated from the Islamic Maghreb to sectarian-governed France which celebrates equality, fraternity and liberty. And who appear to take the liberty guaranteed them in France to mean they are free to exercise their racial bigotry when and as the mood takes them, luxuriously and with full intent to wound.

As an expression of their own humanity, of course. One that negates the full humanity of others. But not merely 'others', since it is a particular 'other' that remains the target. Dieudonne's fans of his outbursts and oblique but clear enough references to Jews have taken phenomenally to the gesture. Practised with gusto and appreciation before historic monuments, even beside public officials ignorant of its value.

Most effective, increasing hugely the pleasure derived therefrom, in front of Holocaust memorials and street signs with the word "Jew" on them, and beside synagogues. One proud individual posed for a quenelle photograph outside the parochial grade school in Toulouse where four Jews were slaughtered last year by a man proclaiming himself an operative of al-Qaeda.

Quite misunderstood, claims Mr. M'Bala M'Bala, for his gesture is one of disrespect to the establishment. One increasingly beloved of the youth living within France's balieus. Of course the establishment also refers to the cabal of Jewish "slave drivers", sinister rulers who secretively mask themselves as survivors of the Holocaust. Monopolizing world pity and manipulating it to their advantage.

The French army chief of staff took the step of banning the gesture after two uniformed infantrymen signalled the gesture outside a Paris synagogue. The quenelle, evidently has become increasingly popular with French soldiers, with ample online photographs demonstrating its popularity.

"The clearest and most distinct anti-Semitism", is behind Dieudonne's "skilfully maintained ambiguity", according to an Interior Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Jews of France are scheduled to become as rare a presence in their country as the Christians of the Middle East, thanks to immigration levels of Muslims from North Africa bringing tradition with them to France.