Dieudonné M’bala M’bala, otherwise known as Dieudonné, hit Canadian soil yesterday but was turned away before kicking off a string of shows there as well as in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières.
He’s sold out his 10 scheduled performances.
Dieudonné’s arrival had been met with protests as well as a public outcry from Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, who said he was not welcome.
“It’s up to (border agents) to make a decision based on his past,” said Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, who represents a Montreal riding, to The Canadian Press. “It goes without saying that discriminatory comments will not be tolerated.”
Michelle Rempel, the Conservative immigration critic, said Dieudonné to the CP in a statement that he should be denied entry to Canada. “His messages go completely against the Canadian values of religious freedom, tolerance and pluralism,” she said.
Despite being turned away, Dieudonné claimed he left on his own will, and would return for his shows in the coming days.
