French Authorities Enforce Discretionary Powers for Olympic Security Amid Civil Liberties Concerns

French Authorities Implement Discretionary Powers for Olympic Security

In a significant move, French authorities are exercising extensive discretionary powers granted under an anti-terrorism law, aimed at preventing potential security threats during the upcoming Olympics. This unprecedented measure has led to the imposition of restrictions on hundreds of individuals deemed to pose a risk, raising concerns about civil liberties and allegations of discrimination.

The majority of those affected by these measures belong to minority communities, primarily from backgrounds in former French colonies. The restrictions placed on them include prohibitions on leaving their local neighborhoods and mandatory daily reporting to police stations. Among those impacted are individuals with past mental health issues who are now under treatment, a business student who believes he is being targeted due to his Muslim identity and his father’s Moroccan heritage, and a halal food delivery driver facing job loss due to movement limitations, as reported by their legal representatives.

Among those affected is Amine, a 21-year-old bank apprentice residing in a suburb south of Paris. Despite having no criminal record and not being charged with any offense, he is now restricted to his neighborhood, permitted to leave only to report to a local police station at 6:30 PM. Amine suspects that he has been mistakenly identified by French intelligence services as someone involved in posting violent content and threats against LGBTQ+ individuals on social media platforms.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has stated that these restrictions are part of a strategy to prevent potential attacks during the Olympic Games. He has indicated that over 500 individuals have been subjected to such measures this year, as part of heightened security preparations for the games and the Olympic torch relay leading up to the opening ceremony.

Unprecedented Scope of Restrictions

The implementation of these restrictions for the Olympics has been described as unprecedented in its scope by various legal experts. The mechanism invoked is known as the “individual measure of administrative control and surveillance” (MICAS), established under France’s anti-terror law. Statistics reveal that over 500 individuals had their movements curtailed this year, with the number reduced to fewer than 200 as the games approach, a stark contrast to the 205 individuals subjected to MICAS restrictions in the first 26 months following the introduction of the 2017 law, according to a 2020 French Senate report.

Margot Pugliese, a Paris-based lawyer, remarked that the measures are “directly connected to the Olympic Games,” labeling the powers as “a horror” and a sign of “the total failure of the rule of law,” given that they can only be contested in court after implementation. She emphasized, “It is a terribly dangerous tool whenever there is a repressive government.”

Concerns Over Targeting Minorities

Lawyers representing those affected have expressed alarm, noting that many clients have no prior convictions and only vague connections to alleged extremism. Approximately half of the individuals represented by the lawyers contacted by AP come from immigrant backgrounds, primarily with familial roots in North Africa. In response to concerns about discrimination, Darmanin asserted that individuals with suspected affiliations to both left- and right-wing extremism are also subject to surveillance.

In light of fears regarding potential terror attacks, French authorities have significantly amplified security measures for the Olympic Games. The anti-terror preventive strategy is characterized by the extensive use of police powers to restrict the movements of individuals deemed to pose potential threats. Notably, these restrictions can only be challenged in court after they have already been enforced, although some affected individuals are currently pursuing legal action, with a few achieving success.

The anti-terror law empowers France’s interior minister to impose movement restrictions on individuals when there are “serious reasons” to suspect they are grave security threats with ties or sympathies to terrorism.