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From: TT
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February 1 | Photo: Francois Mori / AP / TT
Riot police approach a burning barricade during Saturday’s violent protests in Paris.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to protest a security law from which the government has already begun to back down.
Several cars were set on fire, shop windows were smashed and police officers who were fired at fireworks responded with tear gas.
This is the second weekend in a row that violent protests have erupted. The focus is on a proposed security law that, among other things, would make it a crime to photograph and disseminate images of police officers if it is considered to harm the integrity of the police.
The bill was part of a larger security policy package. But strong criticism has been heard that the law could restrict the ability to examine police work or document abuses.
After protests across the country, the government changed this week and promised to rewrite parts of the bill.
One reason for the strong reaction is a widely circulated film showing how black music producer Michel Zegler is arrested and attacked by four police officers in his Paris studio. The recordings show him being beaten several times in the face, while racist curse words are spilled at him.
Zegler appeared in the French media and received great support, also from French soccer stars and celebrities. Four alleged police officers have been charged.
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