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The state of emergency implemented after the Paris attacks in November has restricted the right to protest with “the state of emergency and the disproportionate use of the force," according to a report released by Amnesty International Wednesday.
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A total of 155 orders have been issued since Nov. 13 prohibiting public meetings, grounded on the state of emergency, and an additional 639 measures were adopted by local administrative authorities in order to forbid specific individuals to participate in public meetings, according to alternative media Reporterre.
In February 2016, the organization condemned the human right abuses reported during the state of emergency, with 3,210 police raids, over 400 home arrests — including many environmentalists and journalists during the COP21 — and 12 places of worship shut down, only three months after it was implemented.
Many journalists or documentary makers also testified that they have been prohibited from shooting images during police clashes with protesters, while police even temporarily arrested them and threatened them with charges — even though shooting images of police forces is completely legal.
About the disproportionate use of force, the report, titled, “The Right to Protest Threatened,” recalled that more than 100 protesters filed complaints, while over 1,000 of them have been allegedly injured during police clashes.
Despite a recommendation by the state of council not to, recently elected President Emmanuel Macron has just announced his decision to prolong the state of emergency for another six more months.
The extension announcement led to a joint letter of opposition from 11 human rights and social groups, saying there were insufficient reasons for a measure they judged would be "counterproductive" and "toxic" for French society.
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