Thirteen go on trial in France over 'racist' stunt targeting singer Aya Nakamura
Nakamura's performance sparked a political firestorm amongst far-right politicians and conservatives in a reaction French President Emmanuel Macron at the time described as "racist" and "shocking".
The 13 defendants, between 20 and 31-years-old, now face charges of publicly inciting hatred or violence -- or complicity in such incitement -- on the grounds of ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.
Les Natifs espouses the far-right, white nationalist so called "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, according to which white Europeans are being deliberately supplanted by non-white immigrants.
Nakamura responded to the group's stunt on social media, writing: "You can be racist, but you're not deaf... and that's what really bothers you! I'm suddenly the number one topic of debate -- but what do I really owe you? Nothing."
The singer and anti-discrimination NGOs filed complaints with the Paris prosecutor's office over the incident, which was investigated by France's anti-hate crimes organisation, OCLCH.
- 'Shock public opinion' -
The 30-year-old is the world's most listened to Francophone singer, and her July 2024 performance on one of Paris's fabled bridges the Pont des Arts was among the most-watched moments of the opening ceremony.
But when rumours began circulating in March that the Mali-born and Paris-raised superstar was going to perform, far-right politicians and groups vehemently criticised the decision.
An appearance by Nakamura, who mixes French with Arabic and Malian slang, would "humiliate" the country, far-right leader Marine Le Pen suggested, taking aim at her supposed "vulgarity" and "the fact that she doesn't sing in French."
Far-right media amplified Les Natifs' banner which they unfurled along the capital's Seine River, another in a series of provocative stunts by the group which it shares with thousands of followers on social media.
In March, the group covered portraits of veiled women on display in a church in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis with black sheets. One of the thirteen defendants set to stand trial on Wednesday, Stanislas T., 24, will also face charges in that case on Thursday.
And in February, they plastered an Air Algeria office in Paris with posters reading "Re-migrate 'light' from France to Algeria, for a one-way ticket with no return" written over a single suitcase.
The goal for groups like Les Natifs is to "provoke massive reactions and shock public opinion so we have no choice but to talk about them", said Marion Jacquet-Vaillant, an expert on far-right movements in France.
In April, one of Les Natifs' roughly 50 members described the group's identity as "civilisational, European; national, French; and local, Parisian".
The so-called fight against the "great replacement" is the "mother of all battles", said Gabriel, 25, who works in finance.
The United Nations human rights chief warned in 2024 that the conspiracy theory is "delusional and deeply racist," and a direct driver of violence.
Nakamura's complaint is not the only one stemming from last summer's opening ceremony to head to trial.
A French court in May found seven people guilty of bullying Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the opening ceremony who is openly gay.
And five people are to stand trial in September over similar complaints from Barbara Butch, a French DJ and lesbian activist who starred in a controversial scene during the event.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
9 hours ago
- Euronews
EU Commission 'surprised' by German minister's jibe on trade deal
The European Commission said on Tuesday it was surprised by comments German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil in which he highlighted the EU's weakness in the ongoing tariff talks, despite Germany having been fully briefed ahead of the agreement reached on July 27 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump. 'It is most surprising to us,' Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said, adding: 'Nothing has happened here in terms of the Commission's approach, negotiation or outcome achieved without the clear signal received from our member states.' Klingbeil said on Monday, ahead of his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant in Washington DC, that EU representatives 'have shown weakness' during trade negotiations with the US. 'Overall, as Europeans, we must become stronger," Klingbeil insisted, "then we can also stand up to the US with more self-confidence. Not against the US, but in dialogue with the US.' Germany 'had been fully briefed on the details of the agreement at a political level', Commission Deputy Spokesperson Arianna Podestà added on Tuesday. Since the announcement of the EU-US tariff agreement on July 27, the Commission has maintained that the deal represents the least bad option, allowing the EU to avoid a further escalation in the transatlantic trade dispute. However, the details of the agreement are still under negotiation, just days after a US Executive Order set tariffs at 15%. Germany, in particular, continues to see its automotive industry heavily impacted by 25% US tariffs — contrary to the political deal, which aimed to reduce them to 15%. Negotiations also continue on which products may be eligible for exemptions. 'We fight for every product and every industry,' a senior EU official said, adding: 'We're really trying to get as many products into the list of exemptions.' A joint EU-US statement is expected to be released soon, aiming to reinforce the political commitments made on both sides of the Atlantic. Under the current framework, the US has agreed to apply a 15% tariff on EU goods, while the EU has committed to purchasing US energy and investing in the United States.
LeMonde
10 hours ago
- LeMonde
France-UK migrant returns deal takes effect
A "one-in, one-out" deal in which Britain can return some migrants who cross the Channel in small boats back to France came into force on Tuesday, August 5, the UK government announced. The Interior Ministry said that British authorities were "operationally ready" and that migrant detentions were expected to begin "within days" following ratification of the agreement. "Today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement after striking the deal with French President Emmanuel Macron last month. The agreement seeks to curb record levels of irregular Channel crossings that are causing discontent in Britain and helping fuel the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party. Under the arrangement, for now a pilot program set to run until June 2026, irregular migrants arriving on UK shores could be detained and returned to France if they are deemed ineligible for asylum. In exchange, the United Kingdom will accept an equal number of migrants from France who can apply for asylum via an online platform, giving priority to nationalities most vulnerable to smugglers and to people with ties in Britain. The two governments signed the final text last week, with the EU Commission giving its "green light on this innovative approach," Britain's Home Office said in a statement late Monday. "The unscrupulous business model of smugglers must be broken," the European Union's Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner wrote on X on Tuesday. But refugee charities have criticized the deal, urging the British government to provide more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers instead. The number of migrants making the dangerous journey in flimsy dinghies this year crossed 25,000 at the end of July, the highest tally ever at this point in the year. The rise, which the government has partly attributed to extended periods of good weather, means Labour leader Starmer is struggling to fulfil one of his main pledges before winning last year's general election. Social media ads In recent weeks, anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters have clashed outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Britain, with some demonstrations turning violent. Starmer has tried to portray the deal as a diplomatic victory after years of faltering cooperation between France and the UK on the politically sensitive issue. "This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve," he said. While the agreement has also met with criticism in northern France, where some officials say the program is too favorable to the UK, Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party says it does not go far enough to secure Britain's borders. Interior Minister Yvette Cooper said Tuesday that she would not put a number on how many migrants would be deported under the deal. "Of course, it will start with lower numbers and then build, but we want to be able to expand it," she told BBC radio. The Home Office this week pledged £100 million ($132 million) for law enforcement, including additional staff and technology, to "tackle" gangs who organize the crossings. Starmer's government also said it would make it an offence to promote on social media dangerous immigration routes into the UK, including via the Channel. Under the new provision, which will be part of a border security bill making its way through parliament, those found advertising such crossings could be fined and face up to five years in prison. According to a Home Office analysis, 80% of migrants arriving via small boats told officials they used social media during the process.
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Euronews
No, French President Emmanuel Macron's approval rating is not 7%
A poll doing the rounds on social media claims that only 7% of French citizens trust President Emmanuel Macron. Politicians from the French far-right National Rally (RN) party are among the most prominent figures sharing the post. "93% of French people are lucid, thankfully", wrote Bruno Bilde, who serves as a member of the National Assembly for the National Rally. Fellow MP and RN member Julien Odoul asked his followers: "Who are these 7% of fanatic Macronistes?" Checking recent polls In late July, a poll commissioned by French broadcaster LCI said Macron's approval rating was 28%, while a recent survey published by newspaper Les Echos put it at 21%. Although pollsters use different methods, which can lead to inconsistent results, these latest surveys from reputable sources suggest that 7% is a suspiciously low percentage. A closer look at the top-right corner of the image circulating online reveals the logo of Le Figaro: a French conservative daily newspaper. EuroVerify did not detect any social media posts where Le Figaro stated that Macron's approval rating was 7%. However, we did find a near identical post by Le Figaro shared on X in October 2024, yet here Macron's trust rating was 17% — not 7%. The original image posted by Le Figaro has been manipulated, as the number "1" preceding the "7%" has been erased, in a bid to deceive online users. Dwindling trust in Macron Although the French population's trust in their president may not be as low as 7%, confidence in Macron has dwindled, especially over the course of his second term. This has been influenced by a range of factors, including his dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024 after the far-right surged in the European elections, as well as his government's more recent plans for 2026 budgetary cuts. The next French presidential elections are set to take place in 2027; however, the country's constitution bars Macron — who has remained vague about his future plans — from running again.
