Paris – France’s audiovisual watchdog has reprimanded a cable-TV network and its sister radio station over a journalist’s question to a guest whether he believed the prime minister was “under Jewish influence.”
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The Superior Audiovisual Council said Friday it was acting under its mandate to fight discrimination on the airwaves.
Racial and ethnic tensions have been high in France after January terror attacks in and near Paris, including shootings at a kosher grocery that left four people dead.
The ruling against BFM-TV and RMC radio follows a Feb. 16 simulcast in which a talk-show host asked former Foreign Minister Roland Dumas: “Is he under Jewish influence?” in reference to Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Dumas responded “yes.”
The council’s move amounts to a warning that could bring fines if other such incidents occur.