4 French police officers charged over racial abuse, beating of black man
PARIS - Four French police officers have been charged in connection with the beating and racial abuse of a black music producer, a judicial source said yesterday, days after the incident in Paris that intensified controversy over a new security law.
The beating of music producer Michel Zecler – exposed in video footage published last week – has become a focus of anger against the police, who critics accuse of institutionalised racism and targeting black and Arab people.
Tens of thousands protested on Saturday against the security bill, which would restrict the right to publish images of on-duty police. The rally in Paris ended in bitter clashes.
An investigating magistrate ruled early yesterday to charge three with “wilful violence by a person holding public authority” and “forgery,” a judicial source told AFP.
On Sunday, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz had called for the officers to be charged specifically with using racial abuse.
Police said 81 people were arrested at the protests, with Interior Minister Gerald
Darmanin saying the violence was “unacceptable.”
Ahead of the charges, the four officers had been questioned by the police’s National Police Inspectorate General (IGPN) on suspicion of using violence and racial abuse.
Commentators say that the images of the beating – first published by the Loopsider news site – may never have been made public if the contentious Article 24 of the security legislation was made law.
The bill would criminalise publishing images of on-duty police with the intent of harming their “physical or psychological integrity.” It was passed by the National Assembly, although it is awaiting Senate approval.
The controversy over the law and police violence is developing into another crisis for the government as President Emmanuel Macron confronts the pandemic, its economic fallout and a host of problems on the international stage.
Macron said on Friday that the images of Zecler’s beating “shame us” and asked the French government to come up with proposals to “fight against discrimination.”