Following the election of conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy to France's presidency, there have been a series of riots from angry protesters upset at his victory. Unfortunately, it's a little hard to know much about the rioters due to the French government's passing a law that makes it a crime to report on riots unless you are a professional journalist:
The French Constitutional Council has approved a law that criminalizes the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than professional journalists. The law could lead to the imprisonment of eyewitnesses who film acts of police violence, or operators of Web sites publishing the images, one French civil liberties group warned on Tuesday.
The council chose an unfortunate anniversary to publish its decision approving the law, which came exactly 16 years after Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King were filmed by amateur videographer George Holliday on the night of March 3, 1991. The officers’ acquittal at the end on April 29, 1992 sparked riots in Los Angeles.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓If Holliday were to film a similar scene of violence in France today, he could end up in prison as a result of the new law, said Pascal Cohet, a spokesman for French online civil liberties group Odebi. And anyone publishing such images could face up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (US $98,537), potentially a harsher sentence than that for committing the violent act.
Charles Johnson makes the point that this is a suppression of free speech, however, I don't think the law was ill-intended. It seems to me the law is trying to prevent third-party web sites and political groups from glorifying violent protesters.
Still, I am generally opposed to laws banning freedom of political speech so I think on balance the law is bad.
Oh, and before you wonder if this is another example of unnecessary forbearance to France's Islamic underclass, that does not appear to be the case:
The troublemakers this week have been mostly white, whereas the 2005 riots involved many black and Arab youth angry over discrimination and alienation from mainstream society. This week's protesters resembled some of the young people who helped bring down a minor labor reform last year through mass demonstrations.
Sarkozy's reforms promise to be tougher, and are certain to meet similar street protests.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
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We will see whether or not th
May 8, 2007 - 12:11 ET by ArchConservativeWe will see whether or not this pseudo-conservative (as conservative as you can be and still be French) will try to make laws like this obsolete. In regards to the protesters; whether they were white, black, or Arab, they are still representative of the kind of folks that those on the left count as their base. They are the ones who invoke riots, destroy property, and in some cases kill people to try to prove a point and are then coddled by the media and the liberals/leftists/communists/marxists. It's the same story over here. You destroy a neighborhood, create havoc, and kill some innocents. You make your point and still you come out as a victim.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss"
- The Who
France's media is majority
May 8, 2007 - 12:19 ET by dabalFrance's media is majority stake-held by the government. They control the media, and have been known to downplay the riots for years.
When socialists lose, they inevitably try to usurp democracy by taking to the streets. Royal ordered the riots herself, right in front of the world's eyes, the day before the elections.
You cannot suppress or spin anything very well when there is visual evidence to the contrary all over the internet. The law was ill-intended, without any doubt in my mind.
I am of French descent, with relatives (cousins) in France who are Gendarmes. This policy was first enacted in order to downplay and spin the riots of the last two years as "disenfranchised youths" (aka uneducated gang-banging muslims acting with impunity in the Banelieus and killing the police when they arrive to restore order) "acting out their frustrations" (aka torching cars for fun and beating native French to death). There's a famous video of a group of six or seven immigrant North African muslims kicking (it looked like they were trying to kick a field goal, they were kicking so hard) a French student who was prostrate and defenseless...it caused a furor among the French, many of whom were police, who then proceeded to go into the Banelieus and just started shooting muslim gang-bangers. This is why they aren't participating in the riots this time around...their memories are still fresh with the price they had to pay for their violence. They're sticking with torching cars, as the French do not react so viscerally to destroyed property as they do with destroyed people.
Segolene and the Leftists pro
May 8, 2007 - 12:24 ET by Ten7sSegolene and the Leftists promised riots in the event of their loss and have delivered. France, UK, America ..., We in the West have a Leftist Fifth Column at our backs.
The media in France will trea
May 8, 2007 - 12:29 ET by bigtimerThe media in France will treat Sarkozy the same as they have treated President Bush from day one IMO.
As far as this ban I am afraid I have feelings that are half for it and half against it...
Freedom to report needs to be just that...but distortion and being in bed with the leftists is another thing....
I can't help but think of the majority of reporters in Iraq.
Curious
May 8, 2007 - 12:34 ET by NetizenCainWhen they say 'professional journalist' does this imply a license? Are there permits to become a professional journalist, or just under the employment of a company? Can anyone provide more information on what makes a French citizen a professional journalist?
an appreciation of really goo
May 8, 2007 - 12:53 ET by Chris Normanan appreciation of really good cheese?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb