France's National Front leader to face race trial

PARIS

The leader of France’s far-right National Front is to stand trial over inciting racial hatred, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Marine Le Pen’s prosecution stems from comments she made in December 2010 in which she compared Muslims praying in the street to the Nazi occupation of France during World War II.

“I am sorry but for those who like talking a lot about World War II, if it comes to talking about the occupation, we can talk about it, because that is the occupation of territory,” she told crowds in the eastern city of Lyon.

“It is an occupation of part of the territory, suburbs where religious law is applied. Sure, there are no armored vehicles, no soldiers, but it is an occupation nonetheless and it weighs on residents.”

She will stand trial next month, the Lyon prosecutor's office said in a statement.

After her comments, Le Pen was investigated for inciting racial hatred but the probe was dropped. A group of associations later filed a complaint, leading to the case being reopened in January 2012.

She was charged in July last year after the European Parliament voted to remove her immunity.

The National Front came first in May’s European elections with about 25 percent of the vote, the party’s greatest electoral success in its 42-year history.

PARIS

The leader of France’s far-right National Front is to stand trial over inciting racial hatred, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Marine Le Pen’s prosecution stems from comments she made in December 2010 in which she compared Muslims praying in the street to the Nazi occupation of France during World War II.

She will stand trial next month, the Lyon prosecutor's office said in a statement.

After her comments, Le Pen was investigated for inciting racial hatred but the probe was dropped. A group of associations later filed a complaint, leading to the case being reopened in January 2012.

She was charged in July last year after the European Parliament voted to remove her immunity.

The National Front came first in May’s European elections with about 25 percent of the vote, the party’s greatest electoral success in its 42-year history.