Racism investigation after French magazine depicts black MP as slave

Dabièle Obono said she was sickened by it, and branded those responsible as 'odious, stupid and cruel'.

A criminal enquiry has been launched in France after a black politician was depicted as a chained slave in a leading conservative magazine.

Valeurs Actuelles (Current Values) could now face prosecution for the seven-page illustrated feature on Member of Parliament Danièle Obono, 40.

Ms Obono, who is French-Gabonese, said she was sickened by it. She tweeted the image with the words ‘the far right – odious, stupid and cruel’.

‘This image is an insult to my ancestors, my family and my political movement,’ she added, saying she was ‘more determined than ever to fight against #racism, for liberty, equality and fraternity’.

Following numerous other complaints – including from President Emmanuel Macron – Paris Prosecutor Rémy Heitz on Monday confirmed the opening of a preliminary enquiry for ‘racist insults’.

The row is a particularly incendiary one because President Macron granted Valeurs Actuelles an interview last year, despite its reputation for spreading hate.

Ms Obono said the detailed strip cartoon that portrayed her as an 18th Century slave was an example of institutional racism in France.

Describing those responsible as ‘racist s***’, she said: ‘I hurt for my republic, I hurt for my France.’

Ms Obono, who is a member of the France Unbowed party, added that the drawing was a political attack on those who fight against ‘the racism and stigmatisation that millions of our compatriots are subjected to’.

Mr Macron telephoned her personally on Saturday to ‘express his clear condemnation of any form of racism,’ said a spokesman.

Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted: ‘This revolting publication must be unambiguously condemned. The fight against racism will always transcend our differences.’

Elisabeth Moreno, the junior minister for equality is the only black member of the current French government, and she also offered her support to her left-wing parliamentary colleague.

‘I don’t share Danièle Obono’s ideas, but today I offer her all my support,’ said Ms Moreno.

And Richard Ferrand, the leader of the National Assembly, wrote on Twitter: ‘At her side in the fight against racism and for the respect due to all elected representatives of the Republic.’

SOS Racisme, one of France’s biggest anti-racism groups, said the cartoon was typical of the hate speech aimed at ethnic minorities in France.

Thousands have taken to the streets in recent months to protest on behalf of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, following the deaths of young men in police custody.

Despite this, Valeurs Actuelles defended the cartoon – saying it was part of a ‘summer fiction feature’ in which public figures ‘travel through time’.

A statement from the magazine rejected claims that it was racist, but added that it regretted hurting Ms Obono ‘personally’, adding that they ‘apologise to her’.

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