French far-right MEP Marine Le Pen could face charges over comparing Muslims to Nazis

Immunity granted to her as a member of European Parliament has been lifted

At a rally in 2010 Marine Le Pen compared Muslims praying in the streets to the Nazi occupation of France (EPA)

French far-right politician Marine Le Pen could be charged over comments she made comparing the sight of Muslims praying to the Nazi occupation of France.

The leader of the National Front’s status as a European Parliament member meant she couldn’t be prosecuted over the remarks she made at a rally in 2010, but in December last year authorities asked parliament to lift her immunity.

Following a secret vote by a European parliamentary committee, her protection has now been removed, according to the BBC.

The vote to strip her of immunity was “overwhelming”, and while the result will need to be ratified by the full parliament, the BBC expects it to be a formality. There was no comment from Le Pen, who could faces charges for inciting racism.

At the rally, she said: “For those who want to talk a lot about World War II, if it’s about occupation, then we could also talk about it [Muslims praying in the streets], because that is occupation of territory.

“It is an occupation of sections of the territory, of districts in which religious laws apply. It's an occupation.

“There are of course no tanks, there are no soldiers, but it is nevertheless an occupation and it weighs heavily on local residents.”