Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Justice, who holds French as well as Moroccan citizenship, has a family that is keeping her ministry busy. Jamal Dati, 35, one of her brothers, is benefiting from a decision to grant him partial freedom as part of a lessening of his one-year prison term for drug trafficking. Another brother, Omar Dati, 36, has also been convicted for drug trafficking.

Le Salon Beige reports that Jamal will serve his one-year term in a detention center from Friday evening at 8:00 until Monday morning at 6:00, and can sleep at home the rest of the week. The electronic bracelet is not appropriate for him since it would “hinder his job” as a pipefitter. On August 21 he had been convicted to twelve months without parole for “acquisition, holding, transferring, transporting, usage and importing of drugs.”

Omar was convicted in December to 8 months in prison for repeat drug trafficking. He, too, does not have to serve his term in prison. 20 Minutes reveals that he was placed under electronic surveillance for family reasons. According to his lawyer André Laborderie:

I requested this measure and a parental release as well because my client has a very sick daughter to care for and must take her to the hospital regularly for extended treatment, but this second request was not granted.

As for the super-star of the family, Rachida Dati, 42, is living up to her reputation as a fashion plate. At least that is the assessment of Rama Yade, 31,, France’s Senegalese-born Secretary of State for Human Rights. According to a brief in Le Post Rama Yade declared:

I have no problem with Rachida Dati, but we don't have the same political methods or the same centers of interest. I tried to share with her my passion for the history of the 5th Republic, but she is only interested in clothes and parties.

Now people are wondering if Rama Yade will be dismissed for her comment. If she is not, then the rumor that Sarkozy’s pretty faces are untouchable and cannot be fired is true. An article in Le Figaro dated April 11 describes the frustrations of members of the governing UMP party over the impunity granted certain ministers:

One unnamed minister sighed: “To survive you have to speak very violently. That’s how you become untouchable and climb up in the polls.” Another minister questions the “cast of pretty faces for government posts.” And a third laments, “To sack Rama or Nathalie is impossible.”

The “Nathalie” referred to is Secretary of State for Ecology, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, 34, who last week publicly criticized her superior, Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo.