Paris officers suspended in beating of Black man
Videos stir debate on French bill limiting the filming of police
PARIS — A Black man beaten by several French police officers said he is seeking justice after the publication of videos showing officers repeatedly punching him, using a truncheon and tear gas against him for no apparent reason.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered the officers involved in the case suspended.
The incident came amid debates over a new security bill pushed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, which includes a provision that prescribes a penalty of a year in prison and a fine of about $54,000 for anyone who broadcasts “the face or any other identifying element” of police officers in action if the goal is to “physically or mentally harm” them.
Critics say that language is too open to interpretation and intended to discourage journalists and bystanders armed with smartphone cameras from documenting police brutality, amid growing criticism of aggressive police tactics and resistance from police unions.
George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minneapolis has also prompted scrutiny of racism within the French police force.
Opponents of the bill seized upon footage of the beating to argue the bill should be scrapped, even though it was unclear that the provision would have applied in this case. The bill was passed by France’s lower house of Parliament this week and will be examined by the French Senate in January.
“Without the videos, nothing would have come out,” Julien Bayou, the head of Europe Écologie — Les Verts, France’s Green party, said on Twitter. “Videos that you want to ban. To protect police officers who carry out their mission with integrity? Or to guarantee the impunity of this behavior that dishonors the uniform?”
The officers said in their report that they had been trying to stop music producer Michel Zecler for failing to wear a mask when he pushed them into the building, according to Agence France-Presse. The officers also say he hit them several times and tried to grab their weapons, according to the news agency.
Videos published Thursday by French news website Loopsider show the arrest of Zecler in the 17th district of the French capital Saturday.
The video images — both from a security camera inside the studio and filmed by neighbors outside — show three officers following Zecler inside his music studio, where they can be seen repeatedly punching him and beating him with a truncheon.
The security camera footage shows Zecler trying to protect his face and body. He does not appear violent toward the officers or appear to reach for their weapons.
Zecler told The Associated Press he feels “good” now that “the truth is out.”
“I want to understand why I have been assaulted by people who were wearing a police uniform. I want justice actually, because I believe in the justice of my country,” he said.
Zecler said that the officers hurled repeated insults at him, including a racist epithet.
Headded that he still does not understand why officers decided to arrest him. He suffered injuries to his head, forearms and legs.
His lawyer, Hafida El Ali, said: “He asked them what they wanted, if they wanted to check his identity. They didn’t stop beating him, the video of the violence (inside the studio) lasts for 12 minutes.”
At some point the officers called in reinforcements and went outside. They then threw a tear gas grenade into the studio to get those inside to come out, according El Ali.
El Ali said that nine others who were recording music in the studio basement were also beaten.
“Outside they are still beaten up and thrown to the ground
and that’s the moment when a police officer sees they are being filmed,” she said. Then the violence stops.
Zecler was taken into custody.
Zecler’s lawyer stressed the value of the videos in her client’s case.
“These videos are essential because initially my client was being detained for violence against people with public authority,” El Ali said. “This is very serious. The reality is that if we didn’t have these videos maybe my client would be in prison.”
The Paris police prefecture said the Inspectorate General of
the National Police, known by its French acronym IGPN, will seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest.
The Paris prosecutor’s office is also investigating the police actions.
It’s the second such police brutality investigation in Paris this week prompted by video footage. The government ordered an internal police investigation Tuesday after police officers were filmed tossing migrants out of tents and tripping one while evacuating a protest camp.