Rapper Monsieur R Avoids Prosecution By French Government
French rapper Monsieur R has avoided prosecution by the French government for controversial lyrics that compared France to a slut and the government to Germany's infamous Third Reich.
In the song, FranSSe, Monsieur R (born Richard Makela) makes reference to relieving himself on Napoleon and General Charles De Gaulle while repeatedly referring to France as a "b**ch" that needs to be taken until exhaustion. The video for the song, which featured images of atrocities in Africa cut with naked white women playing with the French flag, had been banned from television.
Outraged French politicians blamed Monsieur R for inciting some of the riots that ended in parts of Paris suburbs being burned to the ground last November. Late last year, French MP Daniel Mach brought charges against Monsieur R accusing him of broadcasting a violent or pornographic message, accessible to those less than 18 years of age.
Mach also drafted legislation that would make it a criminal offense to make statements that insult the dignity of France and the French state.Makela faced a three-year prison term or a 75,000 euro fine, but the case was thrown out of court by the presiding judge who indicated that the MP had not himself suffered any harm and that there were no real victims.'The judges have been courageous,” said Dominique Tricaud, lawyer for Monsieur R. “The judges have been courageous in their judgment because there was very strong political pressure. Two hundred deputies from the parliament asked for a special law from the parliament against the rappers. They wanted to kill the rap in France.”The ruling marks the latest victory for rappers against French officials.
In 2003, rap band Sniper was accused of making anti-Semitic and racist music by Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s interior minister.
While a criminal case was filed, the case was found to have merit and the case was thrown out.
In the song, FranSSe, Monsieur R (born Richard Makela) makes reference to relieving himself on Napoleon and General Charles De Gaulle while repeatedly referring to France as a "b**ch" that needs to be taken until exhaustion. The video for the song, which featured images of atrocities in Africa cut with naked white women playing with the French flag, had been banned from television.
Outraged French politicians blamed Monsieur R for inciting some of the riots that ended in parts of Paris suburbs being burned to the ground last November. Late last year, French MP Daniel Mach brought charges against Monsieur R accusing him of broadcasting a violent or pornographic message, accessible to those less than 18 years of age.
Mach also drafted legislation that would make it a criminal offense to make statements that insult the dignity of France and the French state.Makela faced a three-year prison term or a 75,000 euro fine, but the case was thrown out of court by the presiding judge who indicated that the MP had not himself suffered any harm and that there were no real victims.'The judges have been courageous,” said Dominique Tricaud, lawyer for Monsieur R. “The judges have been courageous in their judgment because there was very strong political pressure. Two hundred deputies from the parliament asked for a special law from the parliament against the rappers. They wanted to kill the rap in France.”The ruling marks the latest victory for rappers against French officials.
In 2003, rap band Sniper was accused of making anti-Semitic and racist music by Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s interior minister.
While a criminal case was filed, the case was found to have merit and the case was thrown out.
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