MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova – One of the French appeals courts heard a civil test case on Wednesday brought by French men of African and Middle Eastern origin, who say they were stopped by police in various cities across France because of their race. The plaintiffs’ lawyer has asked for 10,000 Euros compensation for each of the 13 men.
The court is yet to make the ruling on the case.
"In the wake of the Paris attacks, governments should remain vigilant to ensure that police do not go beyond their powers to perform identity checks," Amnesty International spokesman Marco Perolini told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“The attacks in France triggered some reactions from European governments who adopted, or are debating measures aimed at counteracting terrorism", Perolini said stressing that these procedures violate fundamental rights and may have a disproportionate impact on minorities.
"Domestic laws regulate the powers of police to carry out identity checks, which can pursue a legitimate aim, for instance public security," the spokesperson added pointing out that "these practices should also be proportionate and necessary, which is not the case when ethnicity is the only criterion on the basis of which a specific person is stopped by police."
Amnesty International urges countries to introduce measures and possibly laws "aimed at combating discriminatory police practices and at ensuring police accountability" such as the duty to issue a form to everyone who is stopped by police or the display of an identification number on uniforms worn by law enforcement agents.
Measures aimed at "counteracting terrorism" have been the focus of European authorities since the January terrorist attacks in Paris that claimed the lives of 17 people. On January 7, alleged Islamic extremists attacked satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's office. The following day, a French female police officer was killed by a gunman, who later killed four hostages in a Paris kosher supermarket.
