Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
1. Summary
Shocking video of police brutality against immigrant African women and their babies emerged on news channels and the internet. The disturbing videos showed images of French riot police who savagely evicted around 60 women who had been living in the street after being evicted from their houses. Riot police were filmed dragging out women, infants and children on the pavement. Pregnant women were also among the crowd. No legal action has been taken to investigate the police brutality or solve the problems of the immigrant community.
2. Background
Around 60 African immigrant women, mostly from Ivory Cost were living in the street after the City Council of Paris forcefully evacuated them from their house on the 8th of July. The city council did not make any arrangements for the immigrant families and left the pregnant women, infants and children homeless. More shockingly on the 21st of July, 2010 French riot officers brutally evacuated them from the street. They savagely dragged out mothers whose infants were strapped on their backs, pregnant women and little children. The footage showed screaming and crying babies suffering under racist brutality and speculation of the potentially serious injuries and fatalities.
Video may be seen at: VIDEO
WARNING ! This Video contains disturbing images.
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There has been no investigation launched into the incident. IHRC urges campaigners to write to the French authorities and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance to press for an independent investigation into the actions of riot police on the 21st of July.
3. Action required
Write to the following authorities requesting them to urge the French government to investigate the incident and punish the officials who heavy-handedly dealt with the African immigrants.
a) Nicolas Sarkozy, French President
Monsieur le Président de la République
Palais de l’Elysée
55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008, Paris, France
b) Stephanos Stavros, Secretariat of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Council of Europe, Directorate
Secretariat of ECRI
Council of Europe
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs-DGHL
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
4. Sample letter
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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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a) Nicolas Sarkozy, French President
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
Monsieur le Président de la République
Palais de l’Elysée
55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008, Paris, France
Monsieur le Président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy
Re: Police brutality against immigrant African women and their babies
I am utterly shocked by the footage showing police brutality against immigrant African women and their babies which emerged on news channels and the internet. The disturbing videos showed images of the French police who savagely evicted around 60 women; the Police were dragging women, infants and children on the pavement. Pregnant women were also among the crowd.
Around 60 African immigrant women, mostly from Ivory Cost were living in the street after the City Council of Paris forcefully evacuated them from their house on the 8th of July. The city council did not make any arrangements for the immigrant families and left the pregnant women, infants and children homeless. More shockingly on the 21st of July, 2010 the French police officers brutally evacuated them from the street. They savagely dragged out mothers whose infants were wrapped at their backs, pregnant women and little children. The footage showed screaming and crying babies suffering under racist brutality which fuelled speculation of the potential for serious injuries and fatalities.
There has been no investigation launched into the incident. The video may be seen at: http://digob.com/french-police-dragging-african-women-and-babys-in-street/
We hope that your office will launch a speedy investigation on the incident and punish the officials who heavy-handedly dealt with the African immigrants. Additionally, we hope you will take necessary steps to solve the housing problems of these immigrants.
I look forward to hearing back from regarding these urgent matters.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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b) Stephanos Stavros, Secretariat of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Council of Europe, Directorate
Mr. Stephanos Stavros
Secretariat of ECRI
Council of Europe
Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs-DGHL
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France
Dear Mr. Stavros,
Re: Police brutality against immigrant African women and their babies
I am utterly shocked by the footage showing police brutality against immigrant African women and their babies which emerged on news channels and the internet. The disturbing videos showed images of the French police who savagely evicted around 60 women; the Police were dragging women, infants and children on the pavement. Pregnant women were also among the crowd.
Around 60 African immigrant women, mostly from Ivory Cost were living in the street after the City Council of Paris forcefully evacuated them from their house on the 8th of July. The city council did not make any arrangements for the immigrant families and left the pregnant women, infants and children homeless. More shockingly on the 21st of July, 2010 the French police officers brutally evacuated them from the street. They savagely dragged out mothers whose infants were wrapped at their backs, pregnant women and little children. The footage showed screaming and crying babies suffering under racist brutality which fuelled speculation of the potential for serious injuries and fatalities.
There has been no investigation has been launched to investigate police brutality and racism. The video may be seen at: http://digob.com/french-police-dragging-african-women-and-babys-in-street/
We hope that you launch a speedy investigation into the incident and make sure that similar racist incidents will not take place in France especially against immigrant communities.
I look forward to hearing back from regarding these urgent matters.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75
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