After Lille, justice validates the ban on the concert of rapper Freeze Corleone in Lyon

After Lille, the concert of rapper Freeze Corleone was also canceled in Lyon. Justice validated on Friday February 16 the ban by the Rhône prefecture of a concert by the rapper planned for Saturday evening. The controversial singer is the target of an investigation for “apology of terrorism” after an implicit reference to the Nice attack in one of his songs.

“There is a serious risk that comments may be made that could seriously undermine respect for values ​​and principles, particularly the dignity of the human person, (…)”, estimated the administrative court of Lyon, 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 seized for interim relief.

“Openly anti-Semitic remarks”

The rapper’s lawyer, Me Adrien Chartron, denounced a decision “surprising”. He immediately announced his intention to appeal to the Council of State so that the show could take place. On Thursday, the Lille administrative justice system validated the prefectural ban on another performance of the rapper, scheduled for the same evening in the city. Seized on appeal in the Lille case, the Council of State did not rule, the time planned for this show having been exceeded.

In their respective decrees, the prefectures of Lille and Lyon point to the piece for which Freeze Corleone (31 years old), whose real name is Issa Lorenzo Diakhaté, is targeted for “apology of terrorism”. They point out that the lyrics of several other songs contain “openly anti-Semitic remarks marked by admiration for the person of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich”.