France’s Ban on Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations: A Disproportionate Attack on Freedom of Speech

In France, it is forbidden to show solidarity with the Palestinian people on public roads. Here is the extremely serious decision taken last week by Gérald Darmanin. In a telegram message addressed to the prefects on Thursday October 12, the Minister of the Interior ordered the ban on all “pro-Palestinian demonstrations, because they are likely to generate disturbances to public order ».

While Israel indiscriminately shells the Gaza Strip following the Hamas terrorist attack, no gatherings calling for de-escalation and denouncing reprisals which mainly target Palestinian civilians have been authorized in the capital, nor in Strasbourg, Rennes, Marseille, Lyon, Grenoble, or other large cities.

“The widespread ban on demonstrations in support of the Palestinians constitutes a serious and disproportionate attack on the right to demonstrate”, denounces Patrick Baudouin. The president of the Human Rights League (LDH) recalls that a ban on demonstrations “can only be considered as a last resort”, “if there is a proven, serious risk of specific disturbances and if it is demonstrated that no other measure could guarantee public order”.

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