City of Paris threatens Fox News with lawsuit

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- "The honor of Paris has been prejudiced" by Fox News reporting and the city is contemplating a lawsuit, Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Tuesday.

The mayor cited stories on Fox that some neighborhoods in Paris and other European cities are controlled by Muslim extremists who enforce religious law with police afraid to operate there. Some Fox pundits described those neighborhoods as "no-go" zones.

The network issued an unusual apology Saturday.

"When we're insulted, and when we've had an image, then I think we'll have to sue, I think we'll have to go to court, in order to have these words removed," Hidalgo told CNN. "The image of Paris has been prejudiced, and the honor of Paris has been prejudiced."

Other European leaders have criticized Fox News reporting, including British Prime Minister David Cameron. Fox said non-Muslims deliberately stay away from the entire city of Birmingham.

"When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be April Fools Day," Cameron said.

The French have also joked about Fox. Le Petit Jourrnal, the French equivalent of Comedy Central's "Daily Show," sent reporters into "no-go" zones in Paris, only to find people living typically Parisian lives.

Julie Banderas, a Fox anchor, issued a statement of retraction and apology Saturday. In a separate statement, Jeanine Piro, host of the show where Steve Emerson, a guest, described Birmingham as a totally Muslim city, said he should have been challenged on-air and added that only 22 percent of Birmingham residents identify as Muslims.

"Over the course of this last week we have made some regrettable errors on air regarding the Muslim population in Europe -- particularly with regard to England and France. This applies especially to discussions of so-called 'no-go zones,' areas where non-Muslims allegedly aren't allowed in and police supposedly won't go," Banderas said. "To be clear, there is no formal designation of these zones in either country ... and no credible information to support the assertion that there are specific areas in these countries that exclude individuals based solely on their religion. There are certainly areas of high crime in Europe as there are in the United States and other countries -- where police and visitors enter with caution. We deeply regret the errors and apologize to any and all who may have taken offense including the people of France and England."

On Wednesday, Michael Clemente, a Fox News executive vice president, issued a statement:

"We empathize 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."