Use this tag for questions about claims based in France, or limited to France.
Questions tagged [france]
55 questions
96
votes
6 answers
Are there officially pronounced "no-go" Islamic zones in France?
In this Hannity interview on Fox News on 9 January, 2015, American author Robert Spencer said that:
So in France they have set up - the French government lists on a public web-site -751 no-go areas, where essentially the police have no authority,…
Greg Beuks
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84
votes
1 answer
Are these 'French children held at gun point'?
I've come across this post on facebook several times now. The video shows a group of young people kneeling on the ground with police around them. The text attached is as follows:
School children in France held at gun-point for peacefully protesting…
Lio Elbammalf
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69
votes
1 answer
Was it ever illegal to name a pig "Napoleon" in France?
This is an oft-cited "unusual law", e.g. from The Sun:
IN FRANCE it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon, almost 200 years after his death.
Experts say the odd law exists because calling a pig after the emperor would insult a head of state.
The best…
fstanis
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68
votes
1 answer
Was the 45.9°C temperature in France in June 2019 the highest ever recorded in France?
It was widely reported that on 28th June, 2019, a record temperature of 45.9°C was recorded in Gallargues-le-Montueux, France, breaking the previous 2003 record of 44.1°C. Sources: Metéo France, BBC, CNN.
It was then alleged that this was, in fact,…
Inductiveload
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57
votes
2 answers
Can you have your lunch at your work-desk in France?
According to this NPR article and this podcast episode (published June 2022):
The French labor code prohibits workers from eating lunch in the workplace.
Is this a real French law, and does violating it have actual legal consequences, or is it…
Agnishom Chattopadhyay
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56
votes
4 answers
Did Emmanuel Macron call a teenager an "idiot?"
This article from The Telegraph (June 22, 2018) mentions that Emmanuel Macron called the teenager who was not respectful an "idiot"; emphasis is mine:
President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism for giving a public dressing down to a teenager who…
Ionică Bizău
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56
votes
3 answers
Did the UK slip to sixth largest world economy from fifth, less than 24 hours after the EU referendum vote?
Some news sources have reported that in the 24 hours after the UK's results on the EU referendum came through, the UK dropped from 5th largest economy in the world, to 6th, being overtaken by France.
For example, this headline in the Metro:
France…
user56reinstatemonica8
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47
votes
7 answers
Has France ever won a war?
France is commonly made fun of for not having won a war, for instance when they rejoined NATO and the daily mail made fun of them:
Why did the French celebrate their World Cup in 1998 so wildly?
It was their first time they won anything without…
Kit Sunde
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44
votes
2 answers
Was there a trial by combat between a man and a dog in medieval France?
This website makes the claim that in 1400 a man by the name of "Chevalier Maquer" fought in a judicial duel against a greyhound, after it was suspected that Maquer had killed the greyhound's owner.
Man vs Man’s Best Friend
In France, a very…
Morgoth
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41
votes
3 answers
Did French police fine homeless persons for not being confined at home?
As mentioned in this question, in France, people need to stay at home, and carry the paper if not. The paper will basically explain why we are briefly outside home and that should avoid us being fined.
It has been reported on social media that…
Bebs V
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41
votes
3 answers
Are there shanty towns in Paris?
Recently I started to see many images of shanty towns in Paris, supposedly created by immigrants.
One included below is especially popular. Text says:
Meanwhile in Paris
Is this image true?
If yes, where is it? If no, is there a real problem with…
Mołot
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37
votes
2 answers
Did the French government print posters explaining COVID-19 vaccination passport policy already in January 2020?
We see this poster, for example from the official site of the city of Toulon:
(Explaining that citizens now either need to show a certificate for having 1. covid-vaccination 2. covid-test negative younger than 48 hours or 3. covid convalescent for…
LangLаngС
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34
votes
1 answer
Are all French citizens who go outside their home legally required to carry official papers with a reason why they are out (Covid-19 lockdown)?
The BBC states rather briefly that
France began its lockdown on Tuesday morning, requiring citizens to carry official paperwork stating why they were not at home.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told Europe 1 radio on Thursday: "The…
Fizz
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33
votes
2 answers
Did France kill millions of Muslims?
Refer to a blog post by Malaysia's ex Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad:
Macron is not showing that he is civilised. He is very primitive in blaming the religion of Islam and Muslims for the killing of the
insulting school teacher. It is not in…
Graviton
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30
votes
1 answer
Do African countries have to pay a "colonial tax" to France?
There is a claim that as of today, a lot of African countries are forced to pay a significant percentage of their income to France, and this is the cause of widespread hunger in Africa.
14 African Countries Forced by France to Pay Colonial Tax For…
vsz
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