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Liberté, égalité, fraternité? France Pushes Hard Security Legislation

© AP Photo / Jacques BrinonFrench police officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Monday Nov. 23, 2015.
French police officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Monday Nov. 23, 2015. - Sputnik International
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French authorities are set to widen security measures included in the constitution in the aftermath of the Paris attacks to the concern of human rights’ activists.

French police secure the area outside a housing comples as police conduct a door-to-door search operation in the Neudorf neighborhood in Strasbourg, France, November 16, 2015 - Sputnik International
France Performs Over 2,000 Searches During State of Emergency
The government has drafted amendments to the constitution that will introduce a state of emergency, expand powers of house arrest and the ability to deprive dual nationals of their French citizenship if found connected with terrorism, AFP reported Thursday.

A state of emergency was introduced across France immediately after the November 13th terrorist attacks in the capital that left 130 people dead. Parliament has supported an extension of the original 12-day state of emergency declared by President Francois Hollande for three months following the tragic events over threats of new terrorism acts.

The current state of emergency is based on a law and is not described in the constitution, which the newly proposed amendments are to change. The proposed measures will extend powers of house arrest for six months after a state of emergency expires, according to AFP.

The change of constitution requires a two-thirds vote in the parliament in support of the proposals. Members of the national parliament were reportedly scheduled to review the amendments on Thursday.

According to French prime minister, over 2,000 searches have been carried out in France since the introduction of a state of emergency following the Paris attacks.

People hold French flags on the Place de la Republique in Paris, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. - Sputnik International
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Human rights and privacy campaigners have issued warnings that the emergency anti-terror measures must not remain a permanent fixture in French legislation. Amnesty International is concerned that the new powers passed could potentially erode the founding values of the French Republic.

France's state of emergency includes the possibility for police raids to take place at any point without a warrant; the seizure of digital equipment suspected of containing information by police at any moment and the detention of people whose "behavior can seriously be considered a threat to security and public order.

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