A proposed French law that would require rioters to pay up to €10,000 ($11,150) for the damage they cause has drawn criticism from human rights groups and some lawyers, who argue that it threatens the fundamental democratic right to protest.
Police tactics draw renewed scrutiny
President Emmanuel Macron’s government, facing pressure to contain France’s worst unrest in years, says the proposed law is necessary to compensate victims of vandalism that often accompanies protests, including the looting and rioting witnessed on October 17.
“Violence and property damage can occur on the fringes of a protest without the vast majority of peaceful, legitimate demonstrators having any involvement,” said Hanna Bouchareb, a Paris-based lawyer who represented some of those accused of rioting in fast-track trials following the October 17 unrest, Reuters reported. Interior minister Laurent Nunez, who offered to resign last week after security forces struggled to contain the unrest but was asked by Macron to remain in his post, rejected claims that the proposed law “undermines” the principle of individual accountability. Police faced accusations of excessive force in 2020 during anti-government “yellow vest” demonstrations.
At the time, a proposed law restricting the circulation of images of police officers under certain circumstances also drew criticism before being watered down.