Bob Dylan handed preliminary charges in France over remarks comparing Croatians to Nazis, KKK

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FILE - This July 22, 2012 file photo shows U.S. singer-songwriter Bob Dylan performing on stage at "Les Vieilles Charrues" Festival in Carhaix, western France. French authorities have filed preliminary charges against Bob Dylan over an interview in which he is quoted comparing Croatians to Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. Paris prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said Monday the charges of “public insult and inciting hate” were filed in mid-November.The charges stemmed from a lawsuit by a Croatian advocacy group in France over an interview in Rolling Stone magazine in 2012. (AP Photo/David Vincent, file)

PARIS – French authorities have filed preliminary charges against Bob Dylan over a 2012 interview in which he is quoted comparing Croatians to Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan.

Paris prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said Tuesday the charges of “public insult and inciting hate” were filed in mid-November.

The charges stemmed from a lawsuit by a Croatian community group in France over an interview in Rolling Stone magazine. A lawyer for the group, Ivan Jurasinovic, says they are not seeking monetary damages but only want the legendary singer to apologize to the Croatian people for the comments.

He did not say why they filed the case in France. France has strict laws punishing hate speech and racist remarks.

Representatives for Dylan could not immediately be reached for comment.

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