France announced on Wednesday its decision to close down Les Soulevements de la Terre (SLT), an environmental activist group, due to their involvement in instigating armed protests and violent activities. This action by the government received immediate criticism from opposition parties on the left and non-governmental organizations.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has repeatedly mentioned “eco-terrorism” while referring to the actions carried out by SLT in recent months. He expressed concern about some activists displaying extreme violence towards law enforcement authorities.
The decree specifically mentioned several protests that resulted in clashes with the police, including demonstrations against a farm reservoir in western France in March and a rail link in the Alps just last week.
Human rights organizations argue that this move reflects a broader government crackdown on environmental interest groups. They claim that the crackdown involves heavy-handed policing of protests and the arrests of activists.
