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French Police Charged in Beating, Racial Abuse of Black Man

Agence France-Presse

   PARIS - Four French police officers have been charged in connection to
   the beating and racial abuse of a black music producer, a judicial
   source said Monday, days after the incident in Paris that intensified
   controversy over aproposedsecurity law.

   The beating of music producer MichelZecler--exposed in video footage
   published last week--has become a focus of anger against the police,
   who critics accuse ofinstitutionalizedracism and targeting black and
   Arab people.

   Tens of thousands protested Saturday againstasecurity bill, which would
   restrict the right to publish images of on-duty police.Police said 81
   people were arrested at the protests, with Interior Minister Gerald
   Darmanin saying the violence was unacceptable.

   An investigating magistrate ruled early Monday morning to chargethe
   officerswith "willful violence by a person holding public authority"
   and forgery, a judicial source told AFP.

   Tworemainbehind bars, while the other two were put on conditional
   release, the source added.

   Paris prosecutor Remy Heitzon Sundayhad calledfor the officers to be
   charged specifically with using racial abuse.

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