Justice validated on Friday the ban by the Rhône prefecture of a concert by the controversial rapper Freeze Corleone which was to be held on Saturday evening in Lyon, the day after a similar decision in Lille.
“There is a serious risk that remarks likely to cause serious harm to respect for values and principles, in particular the dignity of the human person, (...), will be made,” estimated
the Lyon administrative court in a judgment of which AFP obtained a copy.
The concert
“is part of a tense context, particularly with regard to the Jewish community in France, the reality of which the Rhône prefect also demonstrates on a local level
,” added the court which had been referred for interim relief.
Denouncing a “surprising”
decision
, the rapper's lawyer, Me Adrien Chartron, immediately announced his intention to refer the matter to the Council of State so that the show could take place.
The day before, the Lille administrative justice system had validated the prefectural ban on another performance of the rapper, planned for the same evening in the city.
Seized on appeal in the Lille case, the Council of State did not rule, the time scheduled for this show having been exceeded.
Freeze Corleone targeted by preliminary investigation
Aged 31, Freeze Corleone, pseudonym of Issa Lorenzo Diakhaté, has been targeted since last week by a preliminary investigation by the Nice prosecutor's office for "apology of terrorism" for a song appearing to evoke the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in 2016. In their respective decrees, the prefectures of Lille and Lyon point to this song and emphasize that the lyrics of several other songs contain
“openly anti-Semitic remarks and marked with admiration for the person of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich”
.
In 2020, Freeze Corleone was already the subject of an investigation, closed without further action, for
“incitement to racial hatred”
after clips containing lyrics such as
“I arrive determined like Adolf in the 30s”
or
“ every day RAF (nothing to worry about) the Shoah
.
Denouncing
“unacceptable racist remarks”
, his label Universal Music announced the end of their collaboration.
The label specified that legal proceedings are underway concerning the distribution contract binding them for the album
“LMF”
, terminated in September 2020.
In recent months, several prefectures have banned Freeze Corleone concerts.
Administrative justice allowed two dates to be held at the Zénith in Paris in November but validated the ban on another concert near Nantes in December.
This concert has been postponed until February 28, pending a decision from the Council of State.
This same Council of State ended up authorizing the rapper to perform in Rennes last March.