Brigitte Bardot

PARIS - Brigitte Bardot was convicted Tuesday of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France.
A Paris court handed down a $23,325 fine against the animal rights campaigner and former screen siren. Ms. Bardot was also ordered to pay $1555 in damages to MRAP, a French anti-racism group.
Her lawyer, Francois-Xavier Kelidjian, said he would talk to her about the possibility of an appeal.
MRAP filed a lawsuit last year over a letter Ms. Bardot sent to then Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. The remarks were published in her foundation's quarterly journal.
In the December 2006 letter to Mr. Sarkozy, now the president, Ms. Bardot said France is "tired of being led by the nose by this population that is distroying us, distroying our country by imposing its acts."
Ms. Bardot, 73, was referring to the Muslim feast of Aid el-Kebir, which is celebrated by slaughtering sheep.
French anti-racism laws prevent inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious grounds. Ms. Bardot had been convicted four times previously for inciting racial hatred.
"She is tired of this type of proceedings," Mr. Kelidjian said. "She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced in her defense of animal rights."
The Associated Press


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