French MPs pass anti-terror bill over civil liberties concerns

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French MPs on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a new anti-terror bill that makes permanent several controversial measures introduced as part of a two-year-old state of emergency, despite concerns from rights groups.

The bill will allow the authorities to confine suspected jihadist sympathizers to their neighborhoods, close places of worship accused of condoning terror and carry out more on-the-spot identity checks - all without the prior approval of a judge.

The legislation has encountered little resistance from a public traumatized by a string of jihadist attacks, despite criticism it will undermine civil liberties.

The bill was approved on its first reading in the lower house of parliament by 415 votes to 127, with 19 abstentions.

Already passed by the upper house Senate in July, it is expected to become law before the state of emergency declared after the 2015 Paris attacks elapses on November 1 after being extended six times.

Police secure the access to the Saint-Charles train station after French soldiers shot and killed a man who stabbed two women to death at the main train station in Marseille, France, October 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

'In a state of war'

Under the bill, the authorities will have more power to shut down mosques and other places of worship, if intelligence agencies believe religious leaders are inciting violence in France or abroad or justifying acts of terrorism.

Police will also have greater powers to raid private property, if they have judicial approval, and there will be an increased ability to impose restrictions on people's movements, including via electronic surveillance tags, if they are regarded as a threat to national security.

"We're still in a state of war," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told parliament Tuesday. "This text will help protect French people," he told reporters after the vote.

Police investigators work outside the Saint-Charles train station after French soldiers shot and killed a man who stabbed two women to death at the main train station in Marseille, France, October 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Human Rights Watch however slammed what it saw as "abusive measures” being made into law. Critics also warn that spot ID checks will inevitably target foreigners and people of color. Meanwhile, others like far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen and right-wing lawmaker Eric Ciotti said the new law didn’t go far enough.

A poll published by the conservative Le Figaro newspaper last week showed 57 percent of the French were in favor of the bill.

The state of emergency declared after deadly attacks in Paris in November 2015 was meant to be temporary but has been repeatedly extended. The government says it has helped foil 12 planned attacks so far this year.

Some 240 people have been killed in a wave of attacks in France since January 2015. Over the weekend, a man stabbed two young women to death in the southern city of Marseille in an attack claimed by the terrorist group ISIL.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters