The Rhône prefecture announced Wednesday that it had banned the organization in the department of a black metal festival affiliated with neo-Nazi ideology scheduled for February 24 in the Rhône-Alpes region, with a headliner known "for his songs with the glory of the Third Reich.
In a decree dated February 19, the prefecture considers that the “Call of Terror” festival “constitutes, by its very object, a major disturbance to immaterial public order due to the attack on human dignity by the the ideology it promotes.
The ban order highlights the affiliation of the organizers "to the National Socialist movement", "the name of the groups" - such as "Leibwätcher" (bodyguard) in reference to the SS division responsible for close protection of Hitler- and their links with the neo-Nazi movement.
The text also cites headliner Graveland affiliated with the National Socialism Black Metal movement linked to the “Blood and Honor” network, dissolved in July 2019 by ministerial decree.
Incitement to racial hatred
February 24, the date on which the festival was to be held, is also the anniversary of the creation of the NDSAP, Hitler's party, also notes the prefecture.
The authorities thus consider that the festival “is likely to give rise to remarks inciting racial hatred and violence (….) in particular against Jews as well as to the apology of crimes committed by the Nazis during WWII ".
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The festival was announced on social networks, with no other indication of location than “Rhône-Alpes region”.
Which, according to the prefecture, shows a “desire to conceal”.