French security law sparks big protests

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest against a proposed law that restricts filming of police officers and racial discrimination after a black man was badly beaten by law enforcement in Paris.

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters in Paris as clashes erupted after some in the crowd hurled stones and fireworks at police. Some cars and a newspaper kiosk were set on fire. Dozens were arrested.

The French interior ministry said 46,000 people took part in the protest in Paris, but some reports suggest the crowd was as big as 200,000 in the capital and that 500,000 people have protested nationwide.

Saturday was the first day coronavirus lockdown measures were eased in France when shops reopened to greet customers.

Protests were also held in other French cities such as Strasbourg, Lille, Nantes, Bordeaux and Montpellier.

The controversial measure, mainly Article 24 of the national security law, criminalizes the dissemination of images of police officers carrying out their duty if it is done with malign intent. The penalty is a fine of up to 45,000 euros ($53,800) and a year in prison.

The law, reportedly pushed by President Emmanuel Macron and his Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ahead of the 2022 presidential election, was passed by the lower chamber of parliament early last week but still needs to be approved by the Senate.

It has triggered many protests in French cities in recent weeks for what critics call curbs on press freedom.

Many on Saturday were also protesting police brutality after video footage of black music producer Michel Zecler being beaten by several police officers shocked the nation.

Macron condemned the maltreatment on Friday, saying: "The images we all saw of the beating of Michel Zecler are unacceptable. They shame us".

The protesters on Saturday included a wide range of people from society such as journalists, civil liberty activists, and yellow vests.

Police violence has been a major issue during the yellow vest movement, which started in November 2018, causing deaths and injuries to many protesters.

The European Commission voiced concern over the security law, saying journalists should be able to "do their work freely and in full security".

"The commission will check the final draft to make sure it is in line with European law," a commission spokesperson told a news conference last Monday.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations warned France the bill "could lead to significant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to privacy, the right to freedom of expression."

Prime Minister Jean Castex said last week an independent committee would revisit the controversial law, but he walked back his comments on Friday under strong pressure from parliament.

Tomosz Michalski, associate professor of Economics and Decision Sciences Department at HEC Paris, a business school, said while the security law was a target for the protest, the worsening economic situation for some hit disproportionately by the COVID-19 pandemic is another.