For having acted as observer of police practices during the numerous street demonstrations prompted by widespread opposition to the government’s policy, and for having criticised the law enforcement system and denounced the numerous cases of violation of the freedom to demonstrate, the LDH is threatened by the French Minister of the Interior who now questions the public subsidies it receives from the government or from local authorities.
Established in 1898 to fight against arbitrary actions by the state against Captain Dreyfus for being a Jew, the LDH has always defended freedom and upholding the rule of law. This is the first time that the LDH has been prevented from playing this role since it was dissolved by the Vichy regime during the Second World War.
Today, launching an attack against the LDH by threatening its funding is an attempt to weaken a counter-power. This is an attack on the freedom of association, of demonstration, and on the freedom of expression. This is an attack on democracy.
FIDH and its 188 organisations, present on five continents, recall that stopping funding is often the first lever used by authoritarian regimes and illiberal democracies to prevent human rights defenders from doing their essential work.
FIDH and its members support LDH in its struggles and call on the French government to respect human rights and the rule of law.