Paris protesters call for end to France's state of emergency

[webfact]

Paris protesters call for end to France's state of emergency



"Just because there is a terrorist threat, we don't need a state of emergency. It's the contrary. Our democracy must be stronger than ever because there are terrorists out there"

PARIS: -- Thousands of people have turned out in Paris to vent their anger over plans to extend France’s state of emergency for three more months.

Opponents say increased police powers and restrictions on public gatherings damage democracy and do not tackle terrorist threats.

Protesters also condemned the government’s push to revoke citizenship from convicted extremists with dual nationality.

Saturday’s march was organised by dozens of associations and leftist political parties.

“I think the extension of the state of emergency is more than dangerous,” said one protester.

“It was used during the COP21 to lock down demonstrators who had nothing to do with terrorism. I don’t know what more they could use it for. It will not prevent terrorism.”

The state of emergency was first brought in by President Francois Hollande in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris last November.

“Just because there is a terrorist threat, we don’t need a state of emergency. It’s the contrary. Our democracy must be stronger than ever because there are terrorists out there,” said Jean Luc Melenchon, a European Parliament member.

There have been more than three thousand house searches since November and many people have been placed under house arrest.

The plans to extend the measures, after they expire next month, still have to go before the cabinet and parliament.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-01

[Jingthing]

Convicted extremists? Convicted of what? Not paying parking tickets or something terror related? Interesting that "leftists" tend to be so tolerant of Islamist extremists considering the way "progressive" people are treated when Islamist extremists are in charge, chop chop.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Jingthing

[Ulysses G.]

Indeed - one reason I don't want progressives in power.

[MAJIC]

Convicted extremists? Convicted of what? Not paying parking tickets or something terror related? Interesting that "leftists" tend to be so tolerant of Islamist extremists considering the way "progressive" people are treated when Islamist extremists are in charge, chop chop.

After almost 130 were slaughtered on the streets of Paris,and all these left wingers can do is call for the lowering of arms,to suit their feeble beliefs. The enemy within is as big a problem, as the Traitors that left our shores that nurtured them, to go and fight for IS.

[Jingthing]

It doesn't seem like a big crowd anyway.

I can see the point about not wanting to restrict public freedoms or any more severely than necessary.

But the terror threat has obviously not gone away ... the opposite actually.

[impulse]

It doesn't seem like a big crowd anyway.

I can see the point about not wanting to restrict public freedoms or any more severely than necessary.

But the terror threat has obviously not gone away ... the opposite actually.

Strangely, some people prefer personal freedoms to the illusion of security under an increasingly intrusive Big Brother.

Ben was right, and I think he actually made his famous quote while living in France (maybe not, but it would be poetic, huh?).

[Steely Dan]

Just goes to show in order to fight the Islamists you have to get past the leftists first.

[elgordo38]

France's Patriot Act. Once you have your citizens under your thumb never relinquish that power. Once you grant a government a "temporary" power it becomes permanent. This is happening the world over. Its just another way governments can oppress its citizens in the name of protecting them. Thanks George Bush Mission Accomplished.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

And yet the same ones complain about the junta backed government oppression.. if you justify abuse of power because of threats and terrorism, thailand with its south problem has all the justifications you re giving here...

And no, giving more arms to the citizen is stupid and never solved anhthing and always created more mess.. just look at thailand or..uncle Sam

[erobando]

I can understand the protester's sentiment. I lived in New York City and worked downtown at the time of the World Trader Center incident.

All the pigs and military checkpoints were pretty annoying.... a 2 minute walk from the subway to work turned into 5.

Someone could have still conducted some small-scale bomb or suicide attack... yet it never happened.

The fear-mongering continued on as excuse for the Patriot Act, the war in Iraq and consequences that we're still experiencing today.