The state of human rights in France continued its “erosion” in 2023, denounced Wednesday April 24 Amnesty International in its global annual report. “The human rights situation is deteriorating. There is more and more uninhibited hate speech”, “more and more questioning of international law”, summarized Tuesday April 23 to Agence France-Presse Jean-Claude Samouiller, president of Amnesty International France, on the sidelines of a press conference in Paris.
The law authorizing the introduction of algorithmic video surveillance, which the authorities present as “experimental” and a guarantee of security during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, risks in particular “excessively extending police powers by expanding the arsenal of surveillance equipment on a permanent basis,” fears Amnesty.
The London-based NGO is also concerned about what it believes is a blow to the freedom to demonstrate. During rallies to contest pension reform, the mega-basins project or in support of the Palestinians, the authorities resorted “abusively to force in maintaining order”, deplores Amnesty in its report, citing “dispersals violent and indiscriminate beatings”. On this point, several international bodies have called France to order.
The organization recalls the death of Nahel M., 17, killed by a police officer in Nanterre in June 2023, which “sparked a wave of indignation at the impunity enjoyed by members of the police” and led to demonstrations. During these, “at least 32 investigations were opened into alleged cases of excessive use of force,” according to the report, which highlights that a delivery driver, Mohamed Bendriss, “was killed.” More generally, gatherings were sometimes completely banned, particularly those claiming to be pro-Palestinian, with the NGO pointing to “excessive, disproportionate, and illegitimate restrictions on the right to demonstrate.”
Discrimination and acts of vandalism
The “immigration” law, adopted last January and part of which was censored by the Constitutional Council, is described in the report as “discriminatory and xenophobic”. According to the organization, “restrictions on the renewal of residence permits, regularization and rights of appeal made the situation of migrants more precarious.” Nathalie Godard, Director of Action at Amnesty International France, affirms that “there is a denial that remains very strong about the impact of racist and stigmatizing speeches which concern Muslims in France”.
Amnesty also reports an increase in violence against LGBTQIA people and “acts of vandalism against reception centers in mainland France and overseas”. Damages, sometimes “racist in nature”, have also intensified against mosques, synagogues and cemeteries.
On the question of freedom of expression, “we have been asking for years that these offenses of glorifying terrorism be repealed in the laws,” she says. “Freedom of expression must be limited on questions of incitement to hatred, but the apology of terrorism is an offense which is defined in an extremely vague and subjective manner, and which therefore represents in itself a risk of “attack on freedom of expression”, adds Ms. Godard.
This question is once again at the heart of political debates after the announcement of the summons of the leader of the rebellious deputies Mathilde Panot by the police as part of an investigation for “apology of terrorism”.