French far-right leader on trial for anti-Muslim hate speech charges

But Le Pen is now on trial after four human rights and anti-racism organizations brought charges against her. The groups have accused her of inciting hatred against people due to their religious beliefs, according to The Guardian.

Le Pen denied any wrongdoing, but faces a year in prison and a fine equivalent to £33,000 if found guilty.

The 47-year-old, who has won a string of election successes after working to soften the image of her party, appeared in a court in the central city of Lyon over the comments she made while campaigning to take over the leadership of the party from her father five years ago.

The charges date back to 2010, when Le Pen - whose party has been feeding off concerns over immigration and radical Islam - criticised Muslims for praying in the streets when mosques are full.

"I am sorry, but for those who love to talk about World War II, and about the occupation, one could talk about this for once, because it is an occupation of the territory", Le Pen told a crowd of supporters.

"There are no tanks, no soldiers, but it is still an occupation, and it weighs on people", she added.

As a penalty for the remarks, Le Pen was stripped of her European Parliament immunity in 2013. "Couldn't it wait another month?" she said to reporters as she arrived at the court.

The leader of France's far-right Front National - who could face a year in jail - was in combative mood as she told Lyon Correctional Court: 'I've committed no crime.

Le Pen and her party score high in all popularity polls before regional elections in December.

Ahead of the trial, Le Pen made clear that she would use the occasion to defend her right to freedom of expression.

Her party is hoping to win two French regions in December local elections. "It does have a political efficiency".

Under Marine Le Pen, the party has tried to "detoxify" its public image and distance itself from accusations of racism and anti-Semitism, but critics say its focus has simply switched to Muslims.

The French Council of the Muslim Faith said her remarks had fed a climate of Islamophobia.

She kicked her father out of the party he founded this summer, after he repeated his view that the Nazi gas chambers were merely a "detail" of history.