“This is an occupation of parts of our territory. . . . There are no armoured vehicles, no soldiers, but it is an occupation all the same and it weighs on people.”
French authorities have asked the European Parliament to lift the immunity of far-right leader Marine Le Pen so she can be prosecuted for comparing Islamic prayers to the Nazi occupation.
Justice ministry spokesman Pierre Rance said the request was sent to European Parliament President Martin Schulz late last month.
A source close to the matter said the request was related to an ongoing judicial probe into remarks made by Ms Le Pen in a speech to supporters of her Front National party in December 2010.
Ms Le Pen seemed unconcerned by the move, saying it was only “traditional practice” after the opening of a criminal probe.
The European Parliament confirmed it had received the request, with its press service saying a commission would study it and submit a decision to the parliament for a vote within three or four months.
Denouncing the holding of Islamic prayers on the streets of France – where a dearth of mosques has forced many to pray outside – Ms Le Pen said in the speech: “For those who like to talk about World War II, to talk about occupation, we could talk about, for once, the occupation of our territory.”
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