The political row erupted after a 25-minute video surfaced of inmates at Fresnes prisons participating in go-karts and other challenges in the prison yard. The prison games were called Kohlantess – a play on Les aventuriers de Koh-Lanta, a French reality TV show based on the Survivor format. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti described the film as “shocking” and ordered an internal investigation, even though his ministry’s communications department reportedly approved the project and saw the film before it aired to ensure there were no concerns about security. “Fighting relapse involves rehabilitation [prisoners] but it definitely doesn’t include go-karts,” Dupond-Moretti tweeted. Le Figaro reported that approval for the event and release of the film had been made at the “highest level” of the ministry, but officials told the newspaper: “What was presented to us did not mention the card. he was talking about sporting challenges, ropes,” an unnamed staff member told the paper. The event is believed to have been approved by the French prison authority. Jimmy Delliste, the warden of the prison in Fresnes, south of Paris, defended the event, saying it was a “fraternal occasion” and thanked the organizers. The games raised €1,700 for charity, he said. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Éric Ciotti, of the centre-right opposition party Les Républicains, was among the most vocal in his anger. “Our prisons are not holiday camps where prisoners and guards bond,” he said. “There is a form of hypocrisy by the minister…whether he was informed or not. He cannot request an investigation if his office has been notified. The minister must explain. These images have shocked many French people and many victims,” Ciotti told BFMTV. “Behind every prisoner there is a victim and these victims I think about.” Fresnes was used to incarcerate members of the resistance and British intelligence agents during the second world war. Photo: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images Fresnes was built in the late 19th century for about 1,700 prisoners. It is now believed to house more than 2,000 men and 100 women. During the German occupation of France during World War II, the men’s wing was taken over by the Nazis who tortured and executed members of the French resistance and British secret service agents. American author James Baldwin was held in Fresnes after being wrongfully arrested for theft in 1949. A French prison official said none of those taking part in the matches had been convicted of murder or rape and that the event did not cost taxpayers “a single penny”. Enzo Angelo Santo, a freelance producer who worked on the video, told BFMTV: “Obviously, as far as we’re concerned, everything was approved. We would never fight back [the] MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.” The event was organized by a local, Djibril Dramé, who is said to have organized several similar matches in Fresnes for several years and organized a sports competition between police and youth in June. French media reported that it was sponsored by a halal fast food chain, Big M, and an online sports app, Omada.
