French music producer Michel Zecler, talks to the media next to his lawyer outside the IGPN (France's National Police General Inspectorate) as he arrives to press charges after he was repeatedly beaten by police forces as he tried to enter a music studio in Paris' 17th arrondissement on November 21, 2020. AURORE MESENGE / AFP
France's top human rights official said Friday, November 7 that police officers soon to be tried in court for beating a Black musician five years ago used "racist insults" against him.
Four policemen are to stand trial over beating the musician and producer Michel Zecler on November 21, 2020, but prosecutors have not sought hate-crime charges against them. Officers beat Zecler in his Parisian music studio after they confronted him for a supposed "strong smell of cannabis" and for not wearing a mask as was required during the Covid-19 pandemic. The four-minute ordeal ruptured his left biceps tendon.
The officers' initial accusations of "violence" and "rebellion" against Zecler were quickly dismissed, and video footage released five days later contradicted the initial police account.
French rights ombudswoman Claire Hedon said an independent investigation by her office found that they had, according to four witnesses, used "racists insults" against Zecler, 46. It also found that the producer suffered six blows to the face while he was being held down on the ground, even though he had not struck or attempted to strike the officers.
