The French Lawyers' Union (SAF, classified on the left) denounced Monday, December 14 the dissolution of the Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), considering that this measure constituted "
a serious attack on public freedoms and democracy
".
The government dissolved this association on December 5, accusing it of "
consistently propagating Islamist propaganda
."
Read also: Separatism: the CCIF dissolved, but still standing?
"
The government actually sanctions a crime of opinion,
" said the SAF in a statement.
“
Freedom of association and freedom of expression are at the heart of any democratic state.
They involve the ability to challenge the rule of law, political action and judicial decisions,
”recalled the union.
“
This administrative dissolution is all the more worrying as no criminal proceedings have ever been brought against the association.
Administrative action thus takes precedence over justice
”, regretted the SAF.
“
The legitimate fight against terrorism must not lead to undermining the freedom of expression of all those who fight against discrimination, contest the weakening of individual and collective freedoms, denounce permanent states of emergency and generalized surveillance of the population,
”added the SAF.
"
To continue this momentum, many associations, unions or political parties, attached to the defense of public freedoms could be dissolved tomorrow
", warned the union.
Read also: The CCIF will challenge its "political dissolution" before the Council of State
The CCIF has been in the government's sights since the assassination of Samuel Paty, a history professor assassinated on October 16 after showing caricatures of Muhammad to his students.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin accused the association of being "
obviously involved
" in the murder of the teacher, describing it as an "
Islamist pharmacy
" working "
against the Republic
".
The CCIF refuted these accusations and announced that it would challenge its dissolution, denouncing an abuse of power by the government.
Created in the early 2000s, the CCIF presents itself as an "
association for the defense of human rights whose mission is to combat Islamophobia
".
