Swiss court lifts ban on explosive reports about healer Denis Vipret

Two investigative reports by Swiss broadcaster RTS can now be shown again after an eight-month ban. The programmes, originally aired in July 2025, examine serious allegations against alternative healer Denis Vipret. A court has now rejected his request to block the broadcasts, allowing them to return to screens.

The Vraiment episodes focus on accounts from women who accuse Vipret of violating their sexual integrity. After their initial broadcast, the shows were temporarily pulled following legal action by the Fribourg-based healer. RTS defended the reports throughout, arguing they served the public interest and were thoroughly researched.

The Lausanne District Court has now lifted the injunction, ruling against Vipret's request for interim measures. RTS welcomed the decision as a significant win for press freedom in Switzerland. The broadcaster had consistently argued that the investigation and its broadcast were both legitimate and necessary. Vipret's lawyer, Nicolas Capt, responded by calling the ruling provisional. He pointed out that the court had not determined whether the facts presented in the reports were entirely true or without flaw. Vipret continues to deny all allegations and remains legally innocent while facing two separate investigations. No additional legal proceedings against him are currently underway. The two ongoing cases are being handled by the public prosecutor's offices in Fribourg and Berner Jura-Seeland.

The court's decision allows RTS to re-air the programmes immediately. Vipret's legal team maintains that the ruling does not confirm the accuracy of the allegations. Meanwhile, the two existing investigations into his conduct remain active.