French Lawyers: Sue Interior Minister Nunez Over Police Brutality

• French lawyers are suing Interior Minister Laurent Nunez over alleged police brutality and severe injuries sustained by protesters.
• The complaint will be filed with the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), the only court that can prosecute sitting government officials.
• The lawyers accuse Nunez of ordering the use of weapons known to cause "mutilating" injuries during recent high-school student and cost-of-living protests.
• Minister Nunez maintains that police actions have been proportionate and within legal frameworks, asserting that crowd-control tools are essential.
• At least 20 individuals, including teenagers, have been seriously injured by police projectiles and grenades since mid-September, prompting 105 internal police investigations.

Attorney Arie Alimi emphasized the necessity of this legal action, stating that it is imperative to target the individual responsible for these severe injuries and widespread damage, specifically Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

A group of French lawyers announced on Friday their intention to pursue legal action against Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, alleging police brutality during recent protests across France. The legal challenge targets Nunez for what they describe as severe injuries and "mutilations" sustained by demonstrators, including several who suffered eye damage. Attorney Arie Alimi, speaking on behalf of lawyers representing at least 18 victims, underscored the critical need to hold the minister accountable.

Attorney Alimi emphasized the necessity of this legal action, stating that it is imperative to target the individual responsible for these severe injuries and widespread damage, specifically Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The lawyers plan to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), the only judicial body in France authorized to hear cases against sitting government officials. This move comes amid ongoing high-school student blockades and cost-of-living protests that have gripped the nation in recent weeks.

The complaint against Minister Nunez specifically alleges that he issued orders for the use of weapons known to cause mutilating injuries. While around 10 clients have already consented to join this collective complaint before the CJR, Alimi acknowledged that the likelihood of an investigation being opened is slim. Despite these odds, the lawyers assert that taking action is crucial to prevent further harm, particularly to children involved in the demonstrations.

In response to the allegations, Minister Nunez has maintained that law enforcement has acted with "the greatest proportionality" throughout the high-school protest movement. He expressed regret for any injuries sustained but affirmed that police use of force always occurs "within a legal and reglementary framework." Nunez also defended the use of "intermediate" crowd-control measures, such as grenades and tear gas, as essential tools for police to perform their duties effectively.

The protests have seen a significant number of serious injuries, with an AFP count indicating at least 20 individuals, including teenagers, have been severely hurt by rubber-coated projectile balls or grenades since mid-September. Notable incidents include a 15-year-old who lost a hand to a crowd-control grenade in October, and a 14-year-old who lost most of his teeth in September after a police officer reportedly fired a grenade at close range. The circumstances surrounding the 15-year-old's hand injury are disputed, with a police union source claiming he picked up the grenade, while a witness stated it landed on him.

Further accounts of injuries from October 17, a day marked by arson and looting alongside peaceful demonstrations, were described as "horrifying" by Alimi, who likened the situation to a "wartime infirmary." Among the wounded was Ahmed Benmezroua, a 27-year-old independent photographer, who nearly died after a grenade ruptured an artery in his leg. Another young engineer was reportedly on the verge of losing his foot after a grenade exploded beneath it, and a 19-year-old nursing student suffered a fractured nose and potential permanent eye damage from a sting-ball grenade. As of October 30, police had initiated 105 internal investigations into brutality claims, with 52 linked to the student movement, 48 to protests on October 17 and 18, and five to incidents on October 24. These events unfold less than six months before elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron, with the far right currently leading in polls.

This case highlights the strategic use of litigation against high-ranking government officials, even when immediate legal success is uncertain, to challenge alleged state-sanctioned violence and raise public awareness. Lawyers in other jurisdictions facing similar issues of disproportionate force during protests should note the specific judicial avenues (like France's CJR) and the public interest implications of such actions, which can set precedents or influence policy changes regarding the use of force.

Source: Original reporting via Agence France-Presse