The Alpes-Maritimes préfecture has banned a performance by comedian Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala scheduled for Sunday in Nice, citing his history of criminal convictions and the risk of serious public order disturbances.
In a statement issued Friday, préfet Jean-Marie Girier said the show, titled "Le fil d'Ariane," carried a grave risk of public disorder and criminal offences, pointing to Dieudonné's roughly thirty convictions, several of them final, for antisemitic remarks, incitement to racial hatred, and violations of human dignity. The préfecture said his performances have regularly included antisemitic, racist, homophobic and transphobic content, along with conspiracy theories and glorification of terrorism.
The ban follows a similar order issued in January, when a scheduled performance in Caussols went ahead despite the préfectoral ban, requiring police intervention to shut it down and fine attendees. This time, Girier has requested heightened security vigilance across the department to ensure compliance, warning that "any attempt to hold the performance will be immediately stopped, and every participant will be fined." The exact venue for Sunday's planned show had not been publicly disclosed by organisers, a tactic préfectures have said is often used to work around such bans. Similar prohibitions have been issued against the same tour in the Gironde, Landes, Seine-Maritime and Haute-Garonne.