This addition was made despite the reluctance of the government.
On Wednesday, during the special committee examination of the “separatism” bill, the deputies introduced an offense of obstructing the function of teacher aimed at pressure and insults.
Against the backdrop of the emotion aroused by the assassination of Samuel Paty, the special commission adopted an amendment from LR Annie Genevard which proposes to punish one year of imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros. to hinder or attempt to hinder by pressure or insults the exercise of the teaching function ”when the latter applies the programs decreed by the National Education.
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The case of a teacher from Lyon, victim of accusations of Islamophobia by a parent of a student after having mentioned in class the principle of secularism, was also taken as an example to justify the creation of this new offense.
The amendment was adopted by 18 votes to 16, despite the reluctance of the rapporteurs and the government who proposed to rework the proposal before the examination in session of the text which will take place on February 1.
Green light for the "offense of separatism"
Government and rapporteurs initially argued that the LR proposal was "superfluous" with the new provisions provided for by the bill, such as the new "separatism offense" created by article 4 or the new offense against "online hatred. »Of article 18. The LR amendment received the support of at least two LREM deputies, Francis Chouat and Thomas Rudigoz.
A similar amendment had been proposed by another "walker", Jean-Baptiste Moreau, before being withdrawn.
The deputies also gave the first green light on Wednesday to the creation of the "offense of separatism" which aims to punish five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros any person threatening, violating or intimidating an elected official or an agent of the service public in order to evade the rules of public services.
This provision aims to penalize communitarian pressure and is part of the measures prepared by the government after the assassination of Samuel Paty last October.
The merits of such a measure were not the subject of debate among the deputies.
A possible complaint by the administrations
However, they modified its wording by adopting an amendment by the rapporteurs which will allow administrations to lodge a complaint if the victim agents fear reprisals.
The special commission also validated the extension of the national file of perpetrators of terrorist offenses (Fijait) to the authors of apology and provocation to terrorist acts.
In the evening, the deputies discussed at length the “Republican engagement contract” to which associations requesting public subsidies will have to subscribe.
It will be a question of respecting in particular "the principles of freedom, equality, fraternity".
Against the advice of Minister Marlène Schiappa, the special committee deleted the specification of respect for equality "in particular between women and men", so as not to "diminish the scope" of the principle of equality according to the initiator of this change, Charles de Courson.
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The fixed imperative of "safeguarding public order", which worried certain associations such as those helping migrants, has been transformed into an obligation to "respect public order".
In addition, associations will have to respect "the minimum requirements of life in society and the fundamental symbols of the Republic", added the deputies.
