LONDON: Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned a decision by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to ban protests in support of the Palestinians.
He gave officials across France “strict instructions” to ban “pro-Palestinian demonstrations” on Oct. 12 “because they are likely to generate public order disturbances,” an official document cited by Agence France-Presse said. He added: “The organization of these prohibited demonstrations should lead to arrests.”
Amnesty called on the French government to “protect and facilitate the rights” of people to peacefully express their political views, in this instance to demonstrate support for the Palestinian people.
“The ban on all demonstrations in support of the Palestinians in France constitutes a serious and disproportionate attack on the right to demonstrate,” said Jean-Claude Samouiller, president of Amnesty International France.
“Faced with the atrocities committed by Hamas in southern Israel, and also the blockade and very heavy bombings in the Gaza Strip, it is important that civil society actors can mobilize peacefully and publicly, in particular those calling on those engaged in the conflict to respect the rights of civilian populations.
“This is why there cannot be a systematic ban on the right to peacefully demonstrate support for the rights of the Palestinian populations.”
He added: “Under international law, a ban on demonstrations can only be considered as a last resort. Authorities should always seek to protect and facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the first place.
“A ban can only be legal if it is motivated by a specific threat and if it is demonstrated that no other less restrictive measure could guarantee public order.”