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French govt DROPS controversial bill curbing filming of police in major u-turn, new version to be written | French govt DROPS controversial bill curbing filming of police in major u-turn, new version to be written |
(32 minutes later) | |
The speaker of French President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party has said the government is dropping part of a controversial bill curbing the right to film on-duty police – which drew huge public anger – and will re-draft it. | The speaker of French President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party has said the government is dropping part of a controversial bill curbing the right to film on-duty police – which drew huge public anger – and will re-draft it. |
Christophe Castaner, president of La Republique en Marche in the National Assembly, told the press on Monday that the government recognized "misunderstandings" around article 24 of the global security bill. | Christophe Castaner, president of La Republique en Marche in the National Assembly, told the press on Monday that the government recognized "misunderstandings" around article 24 of the global security bill. |
Castaner said article 24, which prohibits the filming of on-duty police officers, of the law on comprehensive security would be removed and rewritten for future submission. | |
The legislation was given the green light by the French parliament last Tuesday, when France's lower house backed the complete global security bill by a majority of 388 votes to 104, with 66 abstentions. | |
The government has come under considerable pressure over the inclusion of article 24 within the new proposed security law, and had sought to assure people and bodies – including the European Commission – that the bill would not impact press freedoms. | The government has come under considerable pressure over the inclusion of article 24 within the new proposed security law, and had sought to assure people and bodies – including the European Commission – that the bill would not impact press freedoms. |
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had previously claimed that the aim of the article is to “protect those who protect us.” | Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had previously claimed that the aim of the article is to “protect those who protect us.” |
Under the bill, sharing images of on-duty cops “with the aim or harming their physical or psychological integrity” would become punishable with a year’s imprisonment and a maximum €45,000 ($53,360) fine, raising concerns it could be used to hamper freedom of the press and conceal incidents of police brutality. | Under the bill, sharing images of on-duty cops “with the aim or harming their physical or psychological integrity” would become punishable with a year’s imprisonment and a maximum €45,000 ($53,360) fine, raising concerns it could be used to hamper freedom of the press and conceal incidents of police brutality. |
“Article 24...would not have had any impact on the images we have seen in recent days,” Castaner said on Monday, in reference to incidents of heavy-handed policing caught on camera over the last week. One of the most widely-shared was the brutal arrest of a music producer in Paris last Saturday, during which police forced themselves into his studio and fired tear gas. | “Article 24...would not have had any impact on the images we have seen in recent days,” Castaner said on Monday, in reference to incidents of heavy-handed policing caught on camera over the last week. One of the most widely-shared was the brutal arrest of a music producer in Paris last Saturday, during which police forced themselves into his studio and fired tear gas. |
The draft bill has been the cause of substantial unrest and multiple protests throughout November, which intensified after footage of the producer being beaten by French cops went viral. | |
On Saturday, a reported 46,000 people took to the streets in Paris to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed law. Protesters lit fires across the city and violently clashed with police. | On Saturday, a reported 46,000 people took to the streets in Paris to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed law. Protesters lit fires across the city and violently clashed with police. |
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