News Digest

Paris to sue Fox News over ‘Muslim-only areas’ report as Brum takes it on the chin

A plan by the city of Paris to sue Fox News after a report about “Muslim-only areas” has been described by the TV network’s executive VP as “misplaced”. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour the city was looking to sue Fox after guests interviewed by the station said parts of the city were off-limits to non-Muslims. During her interview on CNN, Hidalgo said the city was “insulted” and that “the honour of Paris has been prejudiced”. Fox has since issued multiple on-air corrections regarding the statements made by the guest, but “a complaint will be filed in the coming days” despite the apology, said a source at Paris city hall.

We empathise with the citizens of France as they go through a healing process and return to everyday life. However, we find the mayor’s comments regarding a lawsuit misplaced.

Fox News executive vice president Michael Clemente

The UK’s second city of Birmingham has ruled out joining the possible legal action, however, despite Fox broadcasting a similarly inaccurate claim that it was a “no-go” zone for non-Muslims. Fox News had to publicly apologise after a terrorism expert appeared on the network telling viewers “there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim, where non-Muslims just simply don’t go in”. Birmingham City Council said it would not be taking any part in any possible French legal bid, concluding “we’ve all moved on”. It described the original comment from Fox News pundit Steven Emerson as “a bit bonkers”, but added both he and Fox News had since apologised.

The comments about Birmingham were a bit bonkers. We said so. Fox News corrected them. We’ve all moved on. End of story.

Birmingham councillor James McKay