France faces ‘litmus test’ for freedom of expression as dozens arrested in wake of attacks

Headline Title:  France faces ‘litmus test’ for freedom of expression as dozens arrested in wake of attacks 16 janvier 2015  A string of at least 69 arrests in France this week on the vague charge of “defending terrorism” (“l’apologie du terrorisme”) risks violating freedom of expression, Amnesty International said.  All the arrests appear to be on the basis of statements made in the aftermath of the deadly attacks against the magazine Charlie Hebdo, a kosher supermarket and security forces in Paris on 7 and 9 January.  “In a week in which world leaders and…

© Amnesty International - Friday, January 16, 2015