Systematic Repression of Peaceful Protest in Europe: Amnesty International’s Warning

Amnesty International’s report highlights a disturbing trend of repression against peaceful protests across Europe, detailing excessive police violence, invasive surveillance, and the stigmatization of protesters. These developments threaten the fundamental right to assemble peacefully, necessitating urgent reforms to protect protest rights.

Across Europe, the right to peaceful assembly is under severe threat as governments increasingly delegitimize, stigmatize, criminalize, and suppress peaceful protesters. Amnesty International’s new report, “Under-protected and over-restricted: The state of the right to protest in 21 countries in Europe,” highlights a troubling pattern of repressive laws and excessive police force being deployed against demonstrators. The report details instances of arbitrary detention, unnecessary use of force, and heightened intrusive surveillance technologies, creating a hostile environment for exercising protest rights. Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, stated that the investigation reveals an alarming offensive against protest rights throughout Europe, with authorities legally stigmatizing peaceful demonstrators. Cases of severe police violence were reported, leading to serious injuries in several countries, and instances of police impunity are widespread. Moreover, the use of invasive surveillance technologies, including facial recognition, is on the rise, often without proper safeguards against abuses. Authorities across Europe employ harmful rhetoric to delegitimize movements, labeling peaceful protesters as terrorists or criminals, reinforcing the justification for increasingly harsh restrictions on protests. These mounting pressures risk suffocating the right to protest in Europe, as various governments impose severe restrictions under the guise of national security and public order. Laws are often weaponized against specific movements, particularly those advocating for marginalized groups. Campaigners continue to assert their right to protest, contending that such actions are crucial for defending human rights.

The right to protest is fundamental to democracy, allowing citizens to voice dissent and advocate for their rights. However, in recent years, numerous European governments have enacted repressive measures against peaceful protests, citing security concerns while failing to comply with international human rights obligations. This report from Amnesty International examines the state of protest rights across 21 European countries, documenting a systematic crackdown and growing hostility towards dissent.

Amnesty International’s report reveals a concerning trend of increasing repression against peaceful protests in Europe. The combination of restrictive laws, police violence, and intrusive surveillance, coupled with derogatory language used against protesters, poses a significant risk to the fundamental right to assemble peacefully. It is essential for states to reform their approaches to protest, ensuring compliance with human rights standards.

Original Source: www.amnesty.org