Four French newspapers, multiple documentaries, and a couple of French magazines ... not credible? Just because the city government doesn't formally recognize the existence of these safe zones doesn't mean they don't exist. Hell, there's several areas in Chicago cops won't go without a SWAT van and a large contingent of cops because of gangs. Is it a formally recognized zone? Nope. Does it exist? Yep. Same thing in Paris, London, and multiple cities in Europe.