Simply Visiting Terrorist Websites Could Mean Jail Time in France
- Posted on March 22, 2012 at 7:45pm by
Liz Klimas
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PARIS (The Blaze/AP) — Frequent visitors to extremist websites in France could see themselves behind bars if Nicolas Sarkozy gets his way. The president proposed a sweeping new law Thursday — one of several tough measures floated in the wake of a murderous shooting spree — and it has some worried about risking freedom of expression.
The proposed rules, unveiled by Sarkozy after the death of an Islamist fanatic wanted for a horrifying series of execution-style murders, have alarmed journalists and legal experts.
Authorities collect evidence after the lethal shooting outside of a Jewish school in France. (Photo: AP)
Sarkozy, who is only a month away from an election, argued that it was time to treat those who browse extremist websites the same way as those who consume child pornography.
“Anyone who regularly consults Internet sites which promote terror or hatred or violence will be sentenced to prison,” he told a campaign rally in Strasbourg, in eastern France. “Don‘t tell me it’s not possible. What is possible for pedophiles should be possible for trainee terrorists and their supporters, too.”
French law calls for up to two years in prison and (EURO) 30,000 (roughly $40,000) in fines for repeat visitors to child porn sites, although whether the proposed anti-terror rules would carry similar penalties isn’t clear.
When asked, Sarkozy’s office directed a query seeking details to the Ministry of Justice, which didn’t immediately offer clarification.
Journalists and lawyers are concerned.
“Trying to criminalize a visit — a simple visit — to a website, that’s something that seems disproportionate,” said Lucie Morillon, who runs the new media bureau of journalists’ watchdog group Reporters Without Borders.
(Related: Who do you think made the enemies of the Internet list?)
“What‘s especially worrying for us is how you are going to know who’s looking at what site. Does this announcement mean the installation of a global Internet surveillance system in France?”
Media lawyer Christophe Bigot seconded her concerns, saying that any such law — if passed — would be a serious blow to the democratic credentials of a country that considers itself the home of human rights.
“I don’t see how you can assume that a person who connects (to an extremist website) not only shares the ideas that are being expressed there but is ready to act on them,” Bigot said. “That seems to be a very dangerous shortcut — a real step back in terms of individual liberty.”
Bigot said it wasn‘t clear to him to what degree Sarkozy’s proposals were serious. In any case, France‘s Parliament isn’t in session, but could be called back for urgent legislation. Otherwise, an eventual law would be contingent on Sarkozy’s reelection.
Mohamed Merah
The tightening presidential race has been upended by the shooting rampage blamed on Mohamed Merah, a 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent who allegedly killed three French paratroopers, three Jewish schoolchildren and a rabbi before dying in a violent confrontation with police in the southern French city of Toulouse earlier Thursday.
(Related: French suspect in Jewish school shooting leaps to death after police shootout)
Sarkozy has France’s far-right nipping at his heels, so he’s been under pressure to appear tough. A poll released Thursday by the CSA firm suggested that Sarkozy may benefit politically from a hardening of attitudes toward extremist violence.
Morillon said she understood the emotional appeal of a crackdown on online radicalization in the wake of such atrocities.
Still, she said, “you have to be careful not to attack the wrong target.”
“Once more it‘s the Internet that’s being blamed, as if the Internet was the source of all evil.”
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SamIamTwo
Posted on March 26, 2012 at 9:06amYeah, and some UE countries are sealing up their borders. And they have come to regret the day they let Muslims take root in their society…
We need to send a team of lefties to conduct a study over there, eh?
Report Post »Warm In The Desert
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 11:37pmMr. Sarkozy you’ve submitted quite an intolerable proposition that will not sit well with your electorate come election time. One easily understands the furious outrage, that is the aftermath in Toulouse created by a radical Moslem…but do restrain yourself.
Internet censure is not the answer.
Report Post »ripvanwinkle
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 12:03pmThis is the thought police moving in for another coup d’etat against free society. Too bad the Europeans don’t realize that this move is way left of the U.S. Constitutional balance point, as are all totalitarian political systems.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 6:59pmCompromise breeds cowards.
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 11:33amWhat’s the matter, theblaze.com?
Are you too timid to report Sarkozy’s comment that “The religion of Islam had nothing to do with this violence.”
Report Post »Inkmage
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 5:55pmSarkozy is being politically correct, and afraid of inciting acts of violence. The truth is, this and other acts of violence caused by Muslims, is because of Islam. This is what Islam has always been, its nothing radical. The ones we call moderates, should really be called reformers. They wish to take Islam, and move it completely away from the death and hate culture that it has always been. Unfortunately they get no help especially from white liberals, who pay no mind to them- while they speak out risking their own lives and safety… In free countries I might add.
Islam as is, is nothing more than a virulent miasma that poisons the hearts and minds of people, especially young people- I have absolutely no respect for it, as it is nothing that should be respected until it is taken away from the men who worship death and destruction, and placed in the hands of the people good Muslims who wish to change it.
Its time people start listening to the Muslims who are warning us, and want to change it- and call out the current state of Islam, as its been- for what it truly is.
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 7:26amQuestion:
Why aren‘t the world’s governments getting together and simply shutting these sites down?
Seems simple enough.
Report Post »gr8t2bfree
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 10:33amC’mon Mav, wake up! Obama calls conservative radio terrorist sites! Sarkpu**y isnt talking about islamic sites, he’s talking about antimuslin sites!!! DUH!!
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 12:03amSarkozy is doing everything he can to get re-elected. Only he’s going about it the wrong way.
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 12:21amWhen the Vail of Blindness is placed over you – it is hard to see the truth! Like Christian that still believe Obama is a Christian or that Obama has the best interest of those, that can work but won’t, at heart.
This means that Obama would be the first Dictator ever to tolerate Welfare! Does anyone think Hitler or Saddam allowed people to free load off of his Country when he took power – free loaders were the first ones eliminated.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:24am@Randy
It‘s not that it’s the wrong way, it’s the easy way. You’re right in that he wants to get re-elected, but he won’t grasp the nettle and throw these barbaric animals out of his country.
He should do just that. The Poles evicted all Germans out of Poland at the end of the second world war. Good, bad, and indifferent, they all went. Millions of them.
The Islamists have stated that they are at war with the west. Take them at their word (and their deeds, for that matter). Why do western leaders not only tolerate the muslims that are already rioting, bashing, murdering, and inciting more of the same, but are importing more of them? Why? It doesn’t make any sense. Italy, at least, has seen the light and is turning the latest arrivals away.
If you think that evicting muslims en masse is a bit over the top, let me remind you of a saying that is common in Europe: A bad muslim cuts your head off, a moderate muslim holds your feet.
Report Post »EndTheFedNOW
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 11:36pmOf course. And soon it will happen in America. One day the whole web will be sensored. And to even get online, each person will be givin a number specfically to them so they can only get online with that number. Sites like infowars and the blaze will be the real targets. Not some FAKE terror threat where its the government doing these things so the people will be scared, and they can get thru there police state agenda.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 9:37pmThis is a dangerous idea. It could be very easily expanded to outlaw valid political speech. Suppose the government was allowed to regulate this way in the US. Since some of our leading Democrats have expressed the opinion that the TEA Party are terrorists then anyone visiting a site advocating small government could be imprisoned.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 9:11pmOn the one hand… Guilty until proven Innocent… is Stupid, Foreign, thinking… but, on the other hand… the Koran is Satanic… and a Radical Web Site will promote killing!
Report Post »hi
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 9:10pmUh oh! Obama better not visit France.
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:42pmGoing to mosque should be enough to land you in jail.
Report Post »Islam is a street gang masquerading as a religion.
soybomb315
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 9:04pmnotice the law is targeted at sites “which promote terror or hatred or violence”. no mention of islam. It should be clear to everyone that the governments of the world are not trying to protect their citizens – they are trying to protect their power (as well as misinformation).
You all have seen those emails from HSA about tea party groups being under surveilance. All those site you visit (including this one) that say anything bad about our government can be considered ‘hatred’ or ‘violent’. watch out – its coming here next
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:22pmMuslim radicals are living the ( we can do whatever we want ) in France – England & the rest of western Europe .
Report Post »France is trying to put pressure on these muslim radicals but I don‘t know if they’ll be successful cause it’s a little bit too late .
soybomb315
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:09pmscary stuff. i hear it is even worse in this country – you could go to jail for no siding on your house….
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:07pmWell, they COULD ship you off to somewhere here without even a trial for visiting a terrorist related website.
Report Post »steely_eyes
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:06pmSo if I’m in France and I click on MSNBC, I could go to prison?
Report Post »bitter clinger
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 8:03pmWho defines terrorism? This is a slippery slope and would lead to a witch hunt.A better solution is to oust all mooslims that way no innocent citizens are incarcerated.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 7:59pmhttps://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en
Browse anonymously.
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