A French parliamentary committee on Wednesday lifted National Front leader Marine Le Pen's parliamentary immunity over her tweets of "Islamic State" (IS) violence.

The decision opens the way for a judge to summon the former presidential contender, including by police force.

In December 2015, Le Pen tweeted three gruesome pictures of IS crimes, including one that showed the execution of American journalist James Foley.

She later deleted the post after coming under criticism, saying that she didn't know it was Foley in the picture.

Under French law, "publishing violent images" is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($88,100).

French investigators had earlier launched a probe into the tweets but could do nothing because Le Pen had immunity.

The European Parliament in March stripped Le Pen of her immunity for the tweets, but she got it back after being elected as a member of the French parliament in June.

cw/rc (AFP, AP)