In a decision which UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage called “incomprehensible”, the Mayor of Paris is to sue Fox News for telling its audience that there are parts of France which are no-go areas for non-Muslims.
Following the deadly attacks which left 17 dead across Paris, including four Charlie Hebdo cartoonists, Fox News aired a number of reports and interviews examining the impact of immigration on European societies.
During one such interview, Steven Emerson, an expert on terrorism said “In Britain, it’s not just no-go zones, there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don’t go in.
“[In] parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesn’t dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim attire.” His comments led to ridicule from the left, causing Emmerson to issue an apology.
But UKIP leader Nigel Farage backed Emerson, telling Fox News’s Sean Hannity: “We have, through mass immigration and through not checking the details of those people who have come to our countries, we have allowed big ghettos to develop and when it comes to confronting tough issues we’re run a mile and that is why we’re in the mess we’re in. We’ve been led very badly.”
However, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, has now told CNN she intends to sue Fox News over its coverage. “When we’re insulted, and when we’ve had an image, then I think we’ll have to sue. I think we’ll have to go to court, in order to have these words removed.
“The image of Paris has been prejudiced, and the honour of Paris has been prejudiced.”
However, Farage has slammed her decision as “incomprehensible”, telling the Telegraph “We are very much involved in terminology here. The French police call 571 areas sensitive zones, Fox calls them no go zones.
“The French are always sensitive to criticism especially from America. It’s a matter of semantics. I’ve heard French politicians use the term no go zones.
“The point is whether it is the correct phrase there’s a massive problem with lack of integration in French cities.
“I am not in the least bit surprised by it [the threat to sue]. Most people will look at this and find it incomprehensible.”
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