After the controversy of urban rodeos in the city, here is now the controversy around karting races in prison. The broadcast of a video on YouTube on August 19 where the detainees of the Fresnes penitentiary center engage in a karting race, ignites social networks as well as the media and political sphere. Faced with the strong reactions of indignation that burst forth from all sides, the Keeper of the Seals Eric Dupond-Moretti denounced “shocking images” and announced on Twitter on Saturday to have “ordered an investigation” administrative after the organization of these events inspired by the game show “Koh Lanta”. However, according to information from Le Figaro, the Ministry of Justice had approved this initiative. “Difficult, therefore, for the ministry to deny later having been informed of the event…”, underlines the newspaper. If on the right, we denounce “a summer camp” which insults the victims of convicts, on the left, we argue the need to bring humanity back to prison.
This event, baptized “Kohlanness”, a “Koh Lanta of the cities” imagined and organized by Djibril Dramé, had actually taken place on July 27, three weeks earlier, within the Val-de-Marne establishment. It was the broadcast of a video, in particular on YouTube, on August 19 that sparked the controversy.
We think of a joke, we can’t believe it, it’s like being in the summer camp!
But no, it’s in a prison in #Franceor some #detainees go karting, swimming pool.
While some #police risk their lives for the French, the #thugs incarcerated are at Club Med! pic.twitter.com/BY9aYRrM4M— Matthieu Valet (@mvalet_officiel) August 20, 2022
Three teams – inmates, guards and residents of Fresnes – competed in various events: questionnaire, karting, mime or tug of war over a swimming pool. As Liberation reports, “the charity initiative also aimed to raise awareness among young people from a nearby suburb of the prison reality”.
An initiative validated at the highest level of the Directorate of Prison Administration
Following the controversy, the Keeper of the Seals tweeted: “After the shocking images from Fresnes prison, I immediately ordered an investigation so that all the light could be shed.” Yet, according to the Figarothe Ministry of Justice had validated the initiative at the highest level, which had gone up to the minister’s office and had received the approval of the Directorate of Prison Administration.
Your survey will be quick to do. According to our information, the #Kohlantess was validated “at the highest level of the prison administration” and the video was only released after careful verification… carried out by the communication department of your ministry. #Fresnes https://t.co/Rv2KUpmcj1
— Paul Sugy (@PaulSugy) August 20, 2022
“The release of the video, originally scheduled for earlier in August, has also been delayed as the content has been carefully checked by the Department of Justice’s Communications Directorate, in order to ensure that no sensitive information is posted on YouTube by the organizers. Difficult, therefore, for the ministry to deny later having been informed of the event…”explains the newspaper, which also recalls that “KohLantess” had been widely covered by the press: journalists were present at the event, which had been the subject of a major report by Le Parisien on July 28.
The director of the prison, Jimmy Delliste, then welcomed a “moment of fraternal commitment for the benefit of three associations”thanking the organizers.
Moment of fraternal commitment for the benefit of 3 associations respectively represented by a selection of prisoners, staff members and young Fresnois. Thanks to the organizers and to Djibril DRAME. pic.twitter.com/C9r9gogEMJ
— Jimmy DELLISTE (@DellisteJ) July 27, 2022
However, the organization of this “KohLantess” within the penitentiary center had been strongly contested in the ranks of the prison guards, giving rise to heated discussions with the management of the establishment. In addition, several unions of Fresnes prison guards had judged that the prison is not “a vacation centeraccording to the terms used in a leaflet distributed by the Penitentiary Union of Wardens and brigadiers of the Fresnes penitentiary center (SPS).
The profile of the organizers of the event had also been a source of concern for some supervisors, Djibril Dramé and several of his associates being known to have been in police custody after escapades in a polling station in the city, the day of the second round of the presidential election.
The political class reacts
On the left, we denounce a controversy stirred up by the far right: “The far right is whistling, the macronie is coming back”mocks the deputy Nupes Benjamin Lucas.
The extreme right whistles, the macronie reapplies. Illustration ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2XuGQFlOJg
— Benjamin LUCAS (@Benjam1Lucas) August 20, 2022
Others, like LFI deputy Louis Boyard, believe that this is the kind of activity that puts humanity back in a “unsanitary building” : “In the prison of Fresnes, the food rots because of the heat; the detainees do not have a cooler. Access to the showers is not daily, the 124-year-old building is unsanitary”explains the young politician.
In the prison of Fresnes, the food rots because of the heat; detainees do not have coolers.
Access to showers is not daily, the 124-year-old building is unsanitary.
You left this prison.
Let the associations bring back a little humanity. https://t.co/GDCtz43KaO— Louis Boyard (@LouisBoyard) August 20, 2022
At the RN, we respond by taking as proof another widely relayed video, which would show that the living conditions in this prison are far from inhuman:
The famous inhuman conditions of detention in Fresnes according to this dear deputy-dealer of the NUPES ???? https://t.co/i0YhNUUrkZ pic.twitter.com/Q8yJL1AhLy
— Jimmy Bourlieux Ⓜ️ (@BourlieuxJimmy) August 20, 2022
It is indeed particularly personalities on the right and former supporters of Éric Zemmour who have passed on the images which have aroused the controversy around this karting race. “Can you imagine the victims and families of the victims who see their executioners go kart in the prison of Fresnes? for example, commented influencer Damien Rieu, sharing an excerpt from the film of the event – viewed hundreds of thousands of times in a few hours.
Can you imagine the victims and families of the victims who see their executioners go kart in the prison of Fresnes? ???? pic.twitter.com/tNVCc6enZ6
— Damien Rieu (@DamienRieu) August 20, 2022
“We understand better why the latter had acclaimed Éric Dupont-Moretti during his visit. With him, the executioners are better treated than the victims”, added Matthieu Louve, communications officer for the Reconquest party.
After seeing the images of thugs, murderers and drug dealers go karting in the prison of #Fresneswe understand better why they had acclaimed Éric #DupondMoretti during her visit. With him, the executioners are better treated than the victims. pic.twitter.com/AsTCzChmL5
— Matthieu Louves (@LouvesMatthieu) August 20, 2022
On Saturday, several elected RNs strongly criticized the organization of these “summer activities for inmates” in Fresnes. “During this time, one child in three does not go on vacation due to a lack of financial means. Taxpayers will be happy to see where their money goes.”a tweeted Hélène Laporte, RN vice-president of the National Assembly.
Deputy LR Eric Ciotti also rose up : “Our prisons are not summer camps where inmates and guards form friendships. Where is the respect for the victims and their families who see these offenders having fun while serving their sentences? Where is the fear of punishment?
“Prison should promote reintegration but should it turn into a leisure center?”
Several police organizations also reacted negatively, such as the union of internal security executives (SCSI-CFDT) judging the images “shocking” et ironic on Twitter : “Prison should promote reintegration but should it turn into a leisure center?”.
Cédric Boyer, FO Justice manager at Fresnes prison, told AFP that “reintegration involves vocational training, work, school and above all compensation for victims” and “prison is a place of deprivation of liberty”.
The essayist Matthieu Slama, who was particularly noticed when his book was published Farewell freedomcurried a “staggering lack of humanity” from the Keeper of the Seals:
The prison of Fresnes is an unsanitary building, prisoners who live together in 9m2, unworthy hygienic conditions… But the Minister of Justice prefers to take offense at a simple day of karting organized by a association. Stunning lack of humanity.
— Mathieu Slama (@MathieuSlama) August 20, 2022
A speech similar to that given by Ellen Salvi, journalist at Mediapart who recalls that “France was condemned in 2020 by the European Court of Human Rights for its unworthy prisons”, remarks tackled by the lawyer Me Di Vizio, who asks him : “Do you think that behind the word “dignity” the ECHR put karting races or investing in detention conditions?”
And you think that behind the word dignity the cedh put there karting races or investing in detention conditions? https://t.co/ExCWWdaxdZ
– Fabrice Di Vizio (@ DIVIZIO1) August 21, 2022