French courts have been imposing disproportionately severe sentences for minor offenses, including 10 months in prison for stealing a can of Red Bull and one year for a homeless boy with schizophrenia caught looting a luxury store. The overwhelmed courts rush cases, provide minimal time for defendants, and prioritize punishment under the instruction of the Justice Minister. Furthermore, the French government is censoring social media and justifying it by claiming to protect public order, but it infringes upon free speech and mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The justice system exhibits a double standard, favoring the privileged, and creates a class divide, leading to unrest. Ironically, the government compares itself to oppressive nations while undermining democratic principles.

  • dark_stang@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    “A riot is the language of the unheard.” - A quote that always comes to mind for me.

    I seriously respect how French citizens protest. They do not fuck around. Handing down a 10 month sentence for stealing a soft drink shows fear rather than decisiveness to me. Hopefully this brings about some positive change and these sentences all get commuted.