Alarming Allegations of Police Abuses Against Romanian Yoga Practitioners in France
The report by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) and CAP LC presented to the 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee paints a disturbing picture of the treatment of Romanian yoga practitioners by French authorities in the aftermath of wide-scale police raids in November 2023.
The report details how a massive SWAT operation involving around 175 heavily armed police officers descended on eight private homes and apartments used by peaceful Romanian yoga practitioners near Paris and in Nice. Despite finding no evidence of criminal activity or human trafficking victims, over 50 yoga practitioners were arrested, detained, and subjected to abusive interrogation conditions.
Accounts from the victims describe inhumane and humiliating detention conditions, with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and toilet facilities. Many were unable to access competent legal counsel or interpreters during their interrogations, which were reportedly biased and aimed at extracting incriminating statements against others.
The report alleges a concerning pattern of fabricating “victims” of trafficking and abuse, even when the individuals adamantly denied being victimized. This appears to reflect a troubling trend of authorities disregarding the self-determination of individuals and imposing a narrative of victimhood.
The disparate treatment of the Romanian yoga practitioners compared to high-profile suspects like Telegram founder Pavel Durov further highlights concerning issues of discrimination and double standards in the French justice system.
To address these serious human rights concerns, the report makes several key recommendations to the French government:
- Ensure the right to liberty and security, prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention.
- Guarantee humane treatment and respect for the dignity of detainees, addressing inhumane detention conditions.
- Uphold the right to a fair trial, with access to competent interpreters and legal counsel.
- Prevent the fabrication of victims and coerced testimonies.
- Provide effective remedies and reparations for victims of unlawful arrest, detention, and abuse.
- Strengthen safeguards against discrimination based on national origin or association.
- Protect the right to freedom of religion and belief.
The implementation of these recommendations would be an important step in bringing France’s practices in line with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Human Rights Committee should closely scrutinize these allegations and press France to address these systemic human rights concerns.
CAP LC HRWH CCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights FRANCE
