Hollande government acts to end racially-based identity checks

The French government is to introduce a new measure for police carrying out identity checks to avoid the same person being questioned several times and stem criticism from some immigrant communities and human rights groups that the checks are racially based. 

Wikimedia Commons/Kevin B

Speaking on French TV and radio, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said it was a measure announced during Francois Hollande’s presidential campaign and involves police giving the person a receipt after the identity check is completed.

“It is important that the same person does not undergo an identity check three times,” he explained. “It is not a question of stopping these controls, the police are doing their job…it will be useful for everyone.”

In January, a report by the US-based Human Rights Watch claimed French police carried out identity checks based on a person’s race. The police fiercely denied the accusations.

“I have confidence in the job the police carry out in the security forces,” said Ayrault. “ They need to have respect… and this kind of measure is to restore calm.”

During his campaign, Hollande said he wanted to end racially-based identity checks describing them as “discrimination on a daily basis” and an unacceptable injustice.
 

Le Pen defends political commentator Zemmour

The leader of the far-right Front National party, Marine Le Pen, has come out in support of French political commentator Eric Zemmour who caused outrage last week after claiming on private radio that President Hollande’s new justice minister Christiane Taubira was biased against white males.

Zemmour said on RTL radio that Taubira had chosen who she would support. “Women and youths from the poorer city suburbs are in the good camp which needs protection while white men are the bad,” he said.

Le Pen said she agreed with Zemmour comments and defended his freedom of expression. “[Eric Zemmour] believes that in today’s society, women and minorities are systematically protected,” she said. “He believes, if you are not a woman and do not belong to a minority group, then you will be systematically attacked.”

She added that Taubira “was totally incapable of fighting against the anti-white, anti-French racism which is rampant in poorer areas.”