France - Controversial French Euro-candidate in antisemitism probe
French prosecutors launched an investigation into comedian Dieudonne Mbala Mbala, leader of an "anti-Zionist" party in this week's European elections, after he was filmed insulting Jews.
If charged and convicted of making a "public anti-Semitic insult", the notorious provocateur could face six months in jail and a 22,500 euro (32,000 dollar) fine.
A spokesman for the Paris prosecutor's office said the inquiry was based on a video circulating on the Internet in which Dieudonne responded to a radio producer who had earlier insulted him in a televised debate.
"The yid Zionist lobby that he represents are thieving, racist liars," the provocateur-turned-politician says, in a clip which now appears to have been removed from the YouTube video-sharing website.
Dieudonne and his supporters are running for election to the European Parliament as a so-called anti-Zionist list, opposed to the supposed influence of a pro-Israeli lobby in all corners of French life.
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