France is no stranger to racial tension–just over two years ago the country was rife with riots as young Arabs and North African Muslims protested the death of two immigrant youths, opening up old wounds of racial, economic, and social discontent. Muslim French women who want to wear the hijab often face bans in schools. This is a country where it seems secularism is prized over religious freedom.
But apparently in France, you can only go so far in voicing racial slurs, as demonstrated by former French film star Brigitte Bardot ongoing trial for inciting “racial hatred” against France’s Muslim population. Bardot, 73, has been fined four times for racial slurs, and the latest trial comes on the heels of her comments that French Muslims are “destroying our country and imposing its acts.”
Prosecutors are asking for a two-month suspended sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros. Europe’s largest Muslim community is in France, home to five million Muslims, making up eight percent of France’s population.
It’s an interesting situation of you look at it from an American perspective. Here, people have said similar things, and worse, about Muslims and many other minority groups. We have freedom of speech, but we also have freedom of religion, which is threatened in France. Though as a Muslim I’m glad Bardot is getting reprimanded for her comments, I don’t see what good it’ll do, when the larger picture shows French Muslims and other minority groups still get a mostly unwelcome reception in their own country.
posted April 18, 2008 at 7:25 am
Go, Brigitte!
posted April 18, 2008 at 10:39 am
It seems that Muslims want us to do in our western countries what they themselves are unwilling to do in their own countries and that is “Be Tolerant of others”. Muslims instead want to come to Western countries and force their ideas on us. They seem to enjoy our “sinful Pleasures” while they are here among us I guess they don’t realize that if they force on us the ideas of their home countries, the ideas that they left behind, then the freedoms and financial rewards that they enjoy in the West will go away as well just like they have in their own homelands. I say, anyone who doesn’t like where they are, can move somewhere else that is more to their liking. I appreciate Bardot taking on the fight.
posted April 18, 2008 at 11:58 am
You folks need to take care whom you are choosing to support.
Bardot claims she has seen France go downhill– why? She says it is because people no longer wear nice clothes nor do men shave before going out in public.
Bardot is also firmly against inter-racial marraige, is against women holding office in government, has called homosexuals “fairground freaks”.
Ah, yes, there’s no bigot like an old bigot. She is still stuck in the ’30s, and unashamedly admits it.
Her recent book is a call back to what she believe is “morality”. It’s more like a call to return to old hatreds.
blessed be,
Cernowain Greenman
posted April 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Islam is a religion. There are Muslims of all “races.” How can one be said to incite “racial” hatred for speaking against a religion?
posted April 20, 2008 at 4:55 am
actually islman is a total belief system,a political religious culture
posted April 23, 2008 at 1:22 am
I SURPORT YOUR VIEWS PERTAINING TO MUSLIMS AND ENDORSE YOUR RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR OWN OPINION
posted May 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I think Bardot ought to given a Medal Of Honor, she is telling it like it is. The Muslim population wish assert their Culture and their Religion over the West. The time has come to realize that.
Where were all of you on 911, or Bombings in Spain, London and attempts in France. Send those refusing to assimilate with the country’s they’ve immigrated to.
There is little or no respect for any of us westerners by those living in the Middle East or those living in the West. Problem is their own countries will never let the masses get more than crumbs.
Let’s hear it for Bardot.
posted June 2, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Brigitt may be living in Paris, but she is an icon and a survivor of American Pop. When you are 73, you can say what you want. You’ve lived the life and your opinion is just your ideas, ideally. Leave her alone. I’m a Grandma of 2 and 57 yrs old. I vaguely remember her but I know she entertained many. She is aged and her wisdom will benefit us all….
posted June 3, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I have to admit she speaks the truth, people need to accept and assimilate to the customs and culture of the chosen country they try to immigrate to, and not try to change the ways of the mass. Religeon is being used again and again as a shield and disguise for the hypocrites that live amongst us. Stop using Mohammed or Allah,as an excuse. Live, love and honor all people in their lands and abroad.
posted June 3, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Regarding Bridget Bardot comments.They are absoutley true.They are coming to Canada and trying to take over with their Reglion and their beliefs.Our ways do not matter to them.They want to change laws here to suit their needs.Muslims are trying to dictate to us how to live and soon they will want us to dress like them too.
I no longer feel that Canada belongs to me.
Very Sad about this.If they do not want to adapt-go back to your own country.
posted June 4, 2008 at 2:01 am
I admire Brigitte Bardot for speaking her mind and I am shocked that protesting against cutting animals’ throats is now illegal in France. Political correctness has gone too far when the state can punish one for merely having an opinion and expressing outrage. Let’s hope America stays free and does not try to muzzle patriots.
We bend over backwards to avoid offending some groups who do not hesitate to proscribe our views as soon as they are in the majority. Just ask any Christian or Jew in Saudi Arabia. Why should we be conciliatory at the risk of losing our culture? The tolerance equation is unbalanced…
posted June 4, 2008 at 11:42 am
Several writers are correct. When people migrate they are subject to the culture and nationality of the country they move to. So why do people in authority positions yield to that kind of pressure.They are weak and should of course be removed by whatever means nessasary.If not, the country left will not be theirs to love and raise their children in.
posted June 5, 2008 at 9:09 am
Thank God Bridget Bardot opens her mouth to complain about the De- Frenching of France!!! I go to Franc to see French people not Muslims –I go to England to see English people not Muslims etc etc!!! So you socialist loonie French Government –how dare you fine Bridget for making a complaint!!!!!
posted June 5, 2008 at 9:17 am
Bridgette tell the world the truth—Muslims should remain in the dessert where they belong -tired of looking at ugly women with tableclothes on their heads!!! Actually they should cover their faces cause they sure are not pretty to look at!!!!
posted June 5, 2008 at 9:19 am
Vive La Brigette!!! It takes a woman to tell the truth!!!!
posted June 6, 2008 at 5:47 am
If you dont listen to bridget bardot now, you may have to think back and remember the speach of Enoch Powel to understand the mess you could very well be finding yourself in.
posted July 24, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Kudos to Brigitte Bardot for speaking the truth. Naive Americans who do not live in or near the growing, and literal, stinkholes created in Europe by ignorant, anti-Western, anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic Muslims have neither the realization nor the experience of the dangerous realities surrounding the French and other Europeans who are seeing their traditions and laws increasingly under daily assault. One must also understand that the French and Western Europeans in general are largely responsible for allowing the Third World invasion of Europe. They have instituted grotesquely liberal laws that encourage, and indeed protect, invaders who are indoctrinated by barbarous 7th century Islamic beliefs. Does one seriously think these “immigrants” are interested in assimilating? Do Westerners not understand they are targeted by jihadists?
I foresee, in the near future, an armed struggle breaking out between native Europeans and the unassimilated invaders. It would not be surprising either were Europeans to ask the U.S. and Russia for help in getting rid of the invaders. D-Day revisited…
posted June 17, 2009 at 1:04 pm
What is said here is totally racist and stereotyped. My neighbors are Muslims and are very nice, respectable people. It is wrong to reduce an entire race to the action of its extremists. Not all Muslims are Jihadists, or terrorists for that matter. If what Brigitte said was about Jews, the whole world would have caused an uproar. Besides, you forget that Europe colonized countries of the Middle East in the 19th and well into the 20th century, much to the oppression of its peoples. They stunted the growth of these countries by stripping them out of their wealth and intellect. Therefore, the people of these countries are entitled to better homes at the expense of their colonizers because of the damage they inflicted upon them . Furthermore, it is against personal freedom to deny a person the practice of his or her belief, doctrine, or religion. How can the world become a better place if personal freedoms are compromised? We don’t need to understand a group of people in order to respect them, but if we don’t respect them we need to understand them.