Legendary French actress BRIDGET BARDOT went on trial on Tuesday (15Apr08) to face a charge of inciting racial hatred after making controversial comments concerning the religion of Islam.

The 73-year-old former screen siren faces a possible two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros ($23,500/£11,750) if she is found guilty.

The Contempt star, who quit the film industry in the 1970s to pursue a career as an animal rights activist, has faced similar charges of inciting racial hate on four prior occasions. The latest charges came about after the star publicly published a letter she sent to French president Nicolas Sarkozy last year (07) lambasting the Muslim religious festival of Eid al-Adha - due to its traditions of slaughtering a sheep.

In the letter she says, "I am fed up with being under the thumb of this population which is destroying us, destroying our country and imposing its acts." The first racial hatred charge the star faced was in 1997, where she was fined 1,500 euros ($2,300/£1,150) for her comments, and most recently she was ordered to pay 5,000 euros ($7,900/£3,950) for making similar controversial and racially motivated comments.

Prosecutor Anne de Fonette told the court she was seeking a tougher sentence than on previous occasions, stating, "I am a little tired of prosecuting Mrs Bardot." Bardot did not attend the trial stating she was physically unable to. The verdict is expected in several weeks.

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mfee01 commented, on April 16, 2008 at 7:32 p.m.:

Would love for that to happen to me here in the USA. Let me see if I can offend someone with the truth.. according to the Koran the "prophet" was a rapist, murderer, and child molester. Now that is someone I want to follow, where do I sign up? Wait I know, in this Country PRISON is the main recruitment Depot. Another reason to jump right on it The entire religion is based on a book written hundreds of years after the child molester's death by scribes going by what people remember being told about allah and the "prophet". Ever play "telephone" as a kid? people can't get it straight after 5 people retell a story I am supposed to believe something that long after his descending into Hell? yea right I will get right on that.

Mallorie_Nasrallah commented, on April 17, 2008 at 7:13 a.m.:

I thought Sarkozy might actually make a difference in France, he seemed to really believe in the freedoms we hold so close, but to see this sort of thing happening, god damn, I hope this case is thrown out. ridiculous.

VRWC commented, on April 17, 2008 at 7:37 a.m.:

I am having a hard time believing that religious rights out weigh animal rights, what has become of the leftists???