France: Six French gendarmes of North African origin victims of racism

PARIS - Six French gendarmes, of North African and African origin, who say to be the target of racial slurs, discrimination and humiliation in their unit, intend to seize the High Authority against Discrimination (Halde) for an investigation.

•     The six policemen belong to one of eight squadrons of armored groups of mobile gendarmerie (GBGM) of Satory, near Paris.
  
      Five are of North African origin and African origin, according to their lawyer, Joseph Cohen-Sabban
  
      This latter described Saturday humiliation scenes experienced by two of the six plaintiffs, of North African origin and Muslim faith.
  
      At a stripes ceremony, a policeman put the decorations in a glass of beer and then tried to put them in their mouth" as you would do with a wafer, before he sticks them on their face and go," he said. "It's something very symbolic as a shame," said the lawyer.
  
      Another policeman was "repeatedly" called "bougnoul" (as nigger for the black) by the unit commander. This reminds him also, according to the notice of referral to the Halde, that "he is the quota of the secretariat".
  
      The plaintiffs say also to be victims of discrimination, especially in their "administrative remarkably low ratings, which result in delay or make impossible any career development", according to the notice of referral.
  
      The direction of the police confirmed Friday night that a gendarme of North African origin had complained in February with his hierarchy of racist remarks by his squadron commander.
  
      An internal investigation was launched and had been "verified as inappropriate and discriminatory remarks were made by the captain but there was no real racism", according to the information service and public relations of armies ( Sirpa-gendarmerie).
  
      The police officer was then sentenced to thirty days of arrest or a "severe penalty", said the Sirpa.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.