An Italian author who wrote an attack on Muslims, calling their culture rotten and backward and saying "the sons of Allah are multiplying like rats", was accused of inciting racial hatred in Paris yesterday. Oriana Fallaci, 73, an Italian journalist now living in New York, was unable to attend the court hearing as she has cancer. She first published her polemic against Islam, titled The Rage and the Pride, in an Italian newspaper but such was its impact that it was turned into a best-selling book.
If successful, the case against her will set a precedent in French law. Up to now, only the public prosecutor or official anti-racist associations have been allowed to bring cases alleging incitement to racial hatred. Ms Fallaci's accusers are 11 young Muslim men from the Lyons suburbs.
| Who're multiplying like rats... |
"When a victim is clearly designated, the sons of Allah, why should I, a Muslim, not feel victimised?" asked their lawyer, Gilles Devers. "I have as strong a claim as the associations." Ms Fallaci's lawyers, and those of her French publisher, Plon, said allowing individuals to bring such cases would create a class of "thought police" tying up writers with endless frivolous lawsuits. They also argued that victims must suffer an expressly targeted prejudice.
| Under English common law, truth is a defense in a slander case. Wonder if that's the case under Code Napoleon? |
A similar case against Ms Fallaci was brought by French anti-racist associations last year but was rejected on technicalities. The judgment on the latest case will be heard next month. |