Excerpt:
A UN human rights expert on Friday raised concerns about possible effects of France’s new anti-terrorism laws on fundamental human rights, especially for the country’s Muslims.
“These laws may disproportionately affect, stigmatize and further marginalize citizens of the Muslim faith,” said Fionnuala Ni Aolain, UN’s special rapporteur on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism.
In a statement, she called the French government to devise an independent body to “oversee counter-terrorism and exceptional national security powers in the country”.
Her report follows a nine-day visit to the country from May 14 to 23.
France’s new anti-terrorism legislation entered into force on November 1, 2017, formally ending a state of emergency that had lasted almost two years after the Paris attacks.