French police caught red-handed beating black man

France's police watchdog has launched an investigation into an incident that was caught on cameras, showing police officers brutally beating a black man in Paris, over the weekend.

The video footage that was circulating online and was headline news on French television channels, shows the violent arrest of a music producer identified only by his first name, Michel, on Saturday.

Three police officers followed the man inside his music studio after they apparently saw him walking in the street without wearing a mask — against French coronavirus restrictions — French media reported.

The officers are caught on cameras as repeatedly punching Michel and beating him with a truncheon.

They later left the studio and threw a tear gas grenade into the building to get those inside to come out.

Nine other people, according to reports, who were recording music in the studio basement were also beaten.

Michel told reporters that the officers also hurled repeated racist insults at him, and he was taken into custody for 48 hours.

“I was lucky enough, unlike many other people, to have had the video that protects me,” he said.

After the video release, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered the suspension of any officers involved in the violent arrest.

“When people overstep the boundaries, they must give up the uniform of the Republic, they must be sanctioned and they must be punished by the justice system,” Darmanin said.

France to probe Paris refugee camp dismantling after ‘shocking’ clashes

The French interior minister promises to launch an investigation into the "shocking" scuffles that broke out after police dismantled a refugee camp in the heart of Paris.

Earlier, he said on Twitter that France’s IGPN police watchdog is investigating the allegations.

Michel’s lawyer, Hafida El-Ali, said that her client would be making a formal complaint against the police over the violent incident.

French police have already come under fire this week after people posted videos on social media of officers hitting demonstrators as they cleared a refugee camp in central Paris.

The incident came as President Emmanuel Macron’s government has proposed a controversial security bill that restricts the publication of images of on-duty police officers.

The lower house of the French parliament passed the legislation on Tuesday. The bill will head to the Senate in December.

Lower house of French parl. approves bill banning police identification

The lower house of the French parliament passes a controversial security bill that restricts the publication of images of on-duty police officers.

The proposed legislation has sparked outrage and criticism among journalists and human rights groups across the country and the European Commission, which said that journalists must be able to "work freely and in full security." 

Protest rallies were also held in Paris with the participation of representatives of the media, and "yellow vest" protesters.

France has seen widespread demonstrations this year against police brutality and racism.

European groups urge Macron to stop stirring up hatred

More than 20 Europeans organizations slam French President Emmanuel Macron’s response to the murder of a teacher, saying it lacked wisdom.

The country’s president has lately sparked controversy and widespread anger among the world's Muslim population of nearly two billion people, after he publicly attacked Islam in defense of the publication of derogatory cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He defended the “right to blaspheme” after French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo republished the sacrilegious cartoons in October.

Macron also made controversial remarks about “Islamist separatism,” which according to him threatens to take control in some Muslim communities around France.

The French President came under scrutiny last week for issuing an ultimatum to Muslim leaders in the country to proclaim that Islam is an “apolitical religion.”

Macron's ultimatum to French Muslims slammed by US rights group

A US rights group censures the French president for issuing an ultimatum to Muslim leaders in France to declare Islam as an "apolitical religion."

The largest Muslim civil rights organization in the US, CAIR, said in response that "the French government has no right to tell Muslims or any other religious minority how to interpret their own faith."

The Washington-based rights group further pointed to France’s long history of oppressing its Muslim population.

"Over the past 20 years, France has implemented numerous laws designed to limit and punish the free exercise of religion, especially among Muslims,” CAIR said.

“France has banned students, teachers, and public servants, from wearing visible signs of their faith, including hijabs, at school or at work," it added.

The French government has recently confirmed that its years-long ban on wearing burqas, niqabs and other full-face coverings in public will remain in place.

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