Immunity For Racial Hatred

In July 2013, Members of the European Parliament voted for the removal of far-right leader Marie Le Pen’s immunity. Le Pen, leader of the National Front (FN) will face the charge of incitement of racial hatred, over comments she made in 2011 comparing Muslims praying in the streets to the Nazi occupation of France.

Praying in the streets was banned in Paris in 2011 in response to growing far-right protests. And in the same year France became the first EU state to ban the wearing of the face-covering Islamic veil (niqab) in public.

The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) reports, comparing data from 2010 and 2011, an increase in attacks against the Muslim population. Recorded racist, antisemitic and extremist crimes appeared to be on the decrease in France, while recorded Islamophobic/anti-Muslim crimes appeared to be on the.

See all activities in this country: