Dominique Strauss-Kahn Book Ban Denied; French Court Rules Against Ex-IMF Chief's Plea To Halt Release

French Court Rules On DSK Book Ban

A French court on Tuesday delivered its decision in the Dominique Strass-Kahn book ban case, ruling that lawyer Marcela Iacub's kiss-and-tell about the former International Monetary Fund chief would not be blocked from stores.

However, the final decision was not a total loss for the 63-year-old Strass-Kahn, who filed an injunction in order to halt the book's release. According to French media, the Paris-based court ruled that Beauty and Beast may be published, but must include an insert noting that Strass-Kahn's privacy had been invaded.

The court also awarded €50,000 (about $65,000) in damages to Strass-Kahn, which Iacub and the book's publisher, Stock, will be required to pay.

Strass-Kahn appeared in court Tuesday, seeking to stop the potentially defamatory book from being released Wednesday. He called the work "despicable and dishonest," adding that it devastated his personal life.

While Iacub did not explicitly identify Strauss-Kahn in the book, she has publicly acknowledged that her former lover of seven months is the book's protagonist. In an interview with the French-language Nouvel Observateur last week, Iacub described Strauss-Kahn as a "half man, half pig."

The Nouvel Observateur, which also published excerpts of the book, will also be required to pay €25,000 (about $32,000) in damages to Strauss-Kahn.

"The limits of freedom of expression in this case have been exceeded, and the right to freedom of creation cannot prevail over violations of privacy," the judge explained during the hearing.

Strauss-Kahn is still facing other legal troubles in France. In December, judges decided not to drop pimping charges against him. The decision came less than two weeks after Strauss-Kahn settled a lawsuit with a New York hotel maid over sexual assault allegations.

PHOTO:
dominique strausskahn book ban
A man holds a copy of "Belle et bete," a book written by French lawyer Marcela Iacub detailing her relationship with disgraced former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)

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