Her Department of Justice France is under pressure to explain why he approved reality TV-inspired games at the country’s second-largest prison.

Political controversy erupted when a 25-minute video appeared on YouTube showing Fresne prison inmates participating in go-kart races and other games taking place in the prison yard.

These games were called Kohlantess, a name inspired by the French television reality game “Les aventuriers de Koh-Lanta” based on the Survivor concept.

Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti called the video “shocking” and ordered an internal investigation, although the ministry’s communications department reportedly gave him permission to host the games in question and saw the video prior to its release to ensure there were no security issues.

“The fight against recidivism includes the re-education of prisoners, but certainly not karting,” DuPont-Moretti wrote on Twitter.

Le Figaro newspaper reported that the permission for the matches and the publication of the video had been given by the ministry and was indeed “at the highest level”.

However, officials told the newspaper, “The one presented to us mentioned something not about karting but about sports games.”

It is also believed that the French prison administration gave permission for the games to take place.

Jimmy Deliste, warden of the Fresnes prison south of Paris, defended the games and said they raised €1,700 for charity.

Eric Sautey of the centre-right opposition Republican Party was among those who voiced their displeasure most strongly. “Our prisons are not resorts where prisoners and guards socialize,” he said.

“There is some hypocrisy on the part of the minister… whether he was informed or not. He can’t demand an investigation if his office knew. The Minister must give an explanation. These images shocked many French citizens and many victims,” he said. “Behind every prisoner there is a victim, and I think of these people.”

Fresne Prison was built in the late 19th century for approximately 1,700 prisoners. Now there are more than 2,000 men and 100 women.

^{According to the Guardian}