Dieudonn isn't welcome in Montreal, Mayor Denis Coderre says

Dieudonn M'bala M'bala, the controversial French comedianwho routinely makes jokes about gas chambers andhas publicly denied theHolocaust, isn't welcome in Montreal, Mayor Denis Coderre says.

The controversial French comedian, who performs asDieudonn,is booked to play 10shows in the city next month.

On Twitter on Friday, Coderre accusedDieudonnof incitingsocial tension and racial hatred in Europe.

"When you promote hatred, you promote social division," Coderresaid Friday.

The comedianwas found guilty last year in Franceof condoning terrorism, afterposting a joke on hisFacebookpage about the deadly Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. He has also been convicted numerous times for defamation.

Dieudonnis scheduled to perform atEspaceMushagalusa, asmall art gallery in downtown Montreal from May 11-16.

"If I was in charge, I would say, 'You don't have anything to do here.' We're at the eve of Passover. This is the capital of the living together and I think that freedom of speech doesn't include hatred and he's not welcome," Coderre said.

Dieudonnhas several previous convictions under hate speech laws in France and Belgium. Widely criticized in Quebec, previous shows booked in the province were cancelled.

EspaceMushagalusaownerMushagalusaChigohosaid he'saware Dieudonnis controversial,and asked to review the script of theMay show before agreeing to the booking.

"There was nothing insulting, nothing degrading, nothing racist,"Chigohosaid.

"I can't be responsible for what he's said in the past."

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Steven Slimovitch, a lawyer forB'nai BrithCanada, said he can't see why Canada would welcome someone who has been convicted ofwilfullypromoting hatred.

Hesaid the comedian shouldn't be allowed in the country, and B'nai Brithwill try to block his entry.

"Any citizen of Canada has a right to address a complaint to Canada Border Services Agency, which is what we've done in the past, which is what we will do again in the present situation," Slimovitchtold CBC'sDaybreak Montreal.