Justice Minister Orders End to Recreational Activities in French Prisons

Gérald Darmanin halts non-essential prison programs following backlash over Valentine’s Day massages and dance classes for inmates.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the immediate suspension of all recreational activities in French prisons unrelated to education, work, or sports.
The decision follows public outrage over massages and dance classes provided to inmates at the Toulouse-Seysses prison for Valentine's Day.
The activities, organized by external volunteers, included facial massages and country dance sessions, which were criticized as inappropriate by prison staff and victims' families.
Darmanin stated that such activities were unacceptable and instructed prison directors to focus exclusively on programs aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.
Critics, including prison reform advocates, argue that these activities help inmates learn social norms and reintegration skills, while some highlight the overcrowding and poor conditions in French prisons as the real issue.