In a landmark decision, Europe's top human rights court has called on France to rethink its policing methods after a ruling on Thursday condemned the country for a 2014 law enforcement operation that led to the death of 21-year-old environmental activist Rémi Fraisse, reports RFI.
Fraisse – a passionate botany student – was killed during protests against a planned dam in Sivens, near the southern French city of Toulouse.
He was struck by a stun grenade during clashes between demonstrators and police, sparking widespread unrest in several French cities.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) determined that France had violated Article 2 – the right to life – of the European Convention on Human Rights, citing inadequate safeguards against the use of potentially lethal force.
The ruling highlighted the dangers of the OF-F1 grenade – an explosive device unique to France at the time – which was ultimately banned in 2017.
Recognising the challenges law enforcement faces in handling tense situations, the court nonetheless emphasised the need for greater protection in crowd control operations.
Read more of this report from RFI.
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