France TV Executives Face Trial Over Controversial 2016 Hidden Camera Report

Three years after the broadcast of this report, four people including David Pujadas, the news presenter and Delphine Ernotte, the president of France Télévisions, have been indicted and referred to the Paris Criminal Court, following the complaint for defamation filed by Amar Sahli, the owner of the Jockey Club, reports the newspaper Le Figaro.

In this report broadcast on December 7, 2016, two feminist activists from the Brigade des mères denounced in hidden camera that women would be "unwelcome" in certain public places like this bar. "Here, we are in Sevran, not in Paris... For a woman to go to a bar here, it’s to defy a ban," could be heard in the report.

According to the same source, the subject sparked social media, and very quickly, the café pointed out became the center of attention around the world.

In 2017, the management of France Télévisions assured that this report had been made in accordance with the rules of the art. An opinion confirmed by the CSA which, in response to requests from viewers and a senator, had indicated that it had nothing to reproach the channel for.

Pending the trial, Amar Salhi had to close his establishment, hoping, he says, to "clear his name". His lawyer, Me Farid Bouzidi, considers this report as "a hoax", alleging that "the France 2 journalist never set foot in this café".