French authorities must exercise restraint when policing demonstrations expected on Saturday and avoid any repetition of the injuries caused by their extremely heavy-handed response to protests by the “gilets jaunes” and high school movements, said Amnesty International.
Police used rubber bullets, sting-ball grenades and tear gas against largely peaceful protesters who did not threaten public order and the organisation has documented numerous instances of excessive use of force by police.
“As the clouds of tear gas lift, a clearer picture has emerged which shows police have used excessive force against largely peaceful protesters, journalists and even children,” said Rym Khadhraoui, Amnesty International’s West Europe Researcher.
“Whilst policing demonstrations is a difficult task and some protesters have committed unlawful and violent acts, it is essential that both French law and international human rights law is respected. Police have a duty to maintain public order, and in doing so they may use force only when strictly necessary. If the use of force is unavoidable, it must be done with restraint.”
Official figures show that 1,407 protesters have been injured - 46 of them seriously - since protests began on 17 November. In total, 717 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters also suffered violence. Whilst the authorities, have repeatedly and legitimately condemned acts of violence by protesters, they have failed to express concern over the excessive use of force by the police which must be the subject of an independent, impartial and effective investigation.
French authorities must exercise restraint when policing demonstrations expected on Saturday and avoid any repetition of the injuries caused by their extremely heavy-handed response to protests by the “gilets jaunes” and high school movements.
www.amnesty.org
Thousands of peaceful protesters have been swept up in France’s draconian crackdown on demonstrations, which has seen the authorities misuse the law to fine, arbitrarily arrest and prosecute people who have committed no violence, a report from Amnesty International has found.
Arrested for protest: Weaponizing the law to crackdown on peaceful protesters in France documents how a blanket ban on protests following the COVID-19 -lockdown, was disproportionate and resulted in hundreds of unjustified fines. It also finds that long before the pandemic, first aiders, journalists and human rights observers were among those targeted under vague laws during nationwide protest movements that began in late 2018.
“Disproportionate restrictions on protests in post-lockdown France are a continuation of a disturbing pattern that has seen peaceful protesters under assault from the police and the justice system. When people are detained for releasing balloons or holding banners, it has a deeply chilling effect on lawful protest,” said Marco Perolini, Amnesty International’s Europe Researcher.
“Thousands have been arbitrarily fined, arrested, detained and prosecuted for peaceful activities which should not be considered offences. Peaceful protests have been banned under draconian COVID-19 powers and hundreds of protesters fined”. [...]
“It is ironic that a country with such a long and proud tradition of collective action for social change is criminalizing protest in this way. Three years after Emmanuel Macron made an election pledge to protect the right to peaceful assembly, peaceful protest faces an unprecedented attack,” said Marco Perolini.
“Using the law to target protesters may be less visible than using excessive force, but it is no less damaging to the right to protest. The French authorities must stop criminalizing people and amend all the laws that hamper the right to peaceful assembly.”
Three years after Emmanuel Macron made an election pledge to protect the right to peaceful assembly, peaceful protest faces an unprecedented attack
www.amnesty.org
"Macron did nothing wrong" disse colui che accusa gli altri di capire quello che vogliono, quando gli fa comodo.