French Courts Are Giving Protesters INSANE Sentences

World News@beehaw.org – 78 points – 12 months ago

French Courts Are Giving Protesters INSANE Sentences

French courts have been imposing disproportionately severe sentences for minor offenses, including 10 months in prison for stealing a can of Red Bull and one year for a homeless boy with schizophrenia caught looting a luxury store. The overwhelmed courts rush cases, provide minimal time for defendants, and prioritize punishment under the instruction of the Justice Minister. Furthermore, the French government is censoring social media and justifying it by claiming to protect public order, but it infringes upon free speech and mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The justice system exhibits a double standard, favoring the privileged, and creates a class divide, leading to unrest. Ironically, the government compares itself to oppressive nations while undermining democratic principles.

You are viewing a single comment

View all comments Show the parent comment

I mean every example you listed is fundamentally a property crime. I don't see how property crimes could possibly translate into such long prison sentences. Unless they're using weapons and attacking or threatening people it just doesn't make any sense. "Looting" is an arbitrary definition that seems very ripe for abuse by a government that is already out of control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE_Om13VpQw

Well, penal law here can be very precise.

A French article (the one linked to above) about the Redbull case says

On Monday 3 July, the Marseilles court tried this man for acts of "burglary in a group", "in a state of legal recidivism for having been convicted", in February 2022, "for similar or assimilated acts". According to the lawyer, this previous record alone cannot explain the severity of the sentence imposed. Especially as her client, who was under a committal order, was taken directly into custody after the hearing. "This sentence may seem harsh but, in my opinion, it is contextualised in relation to the riots. The judge's aim is to restore public order and social peace while deterring those who might be tempted to get involved in such reprehensible acts." She added: "It's obvious that if it hadn't been for the riots, my client would have been eligible for a new plea bargain." And therefore to a potentially lower sentence. On Tuesday 4 July, she indicated her willingness to consider his request for a reduced sentence.

All about the context here in France. Only serious cases get to plead their case to a jury (murder, etc.) so this guy had zero chances. Maybe less than zero.

Unless they’re using weapons and attacking or threatening people it just doesn’t make any sense.

Maybe they are. OP's linked video isn't exactly providing detailed references to the court cases he's talking about.