France is facing protests over a draft law that would presume police acted in self-defence when using firearms, with critics warning it could deepen impunity after several deadly shootings.
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01Summary
- 01The bill, approved by the National Assembly in July, is due for a vote in the Senate.
- 02It would presume police officers and gendarmes acted in self-defence when using weapons in the line of duty, shifting the burden of proof to complainants.
- 03Issam El Khalfaoui’s 19-year-old son Souhail was shot dead by police in Marseille in 2021, and he says a petition against the law gathered more than 700,000 signatures.
- 04Protests in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse on 20 September drew nearly 50,000 people, according to the report.
- 05France recorded at least 69 deaths from police or gendarmerie shootings in 2024, up from 49 in 2023 and 50 in 2022.
02Why it matters
The proposed law could change how police shootings are investigated and make it harder for families to challenge officers’ use of force. It also comes amid nationwide unrest and fresh debate over policing, discrimination and accountability in France.
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