Opposition to French national security law mounts amid new police brutality cases

Paris, November 30 (RHC)-- In France, public opposition to a highly contested new security law is mounting after recent high-profile incidents of police violence.  The law would ban the publication of images of police officers and increase police powers. 

Images of French police officers beating Black music producer Michel Zecler, while hurling racial epithets at him, went viral last week.  President Emanuel Macron said the images “shamed” France.  The officers have been suspended and could face charges. 

Over the weekend, award-winning Syrian photojournalist Ameer Alhalbi was taken to the hospital with a broken nose and other injuries after police assaulted him while he was covering a protest opposing the new law.  French Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday the wording of the new law would be reviewed.