(AP Photo/Michel Euler)In a first for France, six non-governmental organizations launched a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against the French government for alleged systemic discrimination by police officers carrying out identity checks. The organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, contend that French police use racial profiling in ID checks, targeting Black people and people of Arab descent. The NGO’s are employing a little-used 2016 French law that allows associations to take such a legal move. The abuse of identity checks has served for many in France as emblematic of broader alleged racism within police ranks, with critics claiming that misconduct has been left unchecked or whitewashed by authorities. The NGOs are seeking reforms rather than monetary damages, especially changes in the law governing identity checks.

Source: Indian Express January 27, 2021 10:15 UTC