French government dissolves far-right group

By Aysu Bicer and Esra Taskın

LONDON/PARIS (AA) - The French government officially dissolved the far-right group Division Martel on Wednesday, which was notorious for its anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments.

The announcement was made by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in a post on X following a Cabinet meeting convened at the behest of President Emmanuel Macron.

He highlighted that the decision was in response to the group's incitement of hatred and violence based on race, asserting that "Division Martel has no place in our Republic."

The approximately 30-member extremist group had been actively involved in promoting violent actions and rhetoric against Muslims and immigrants, prompting the government to take swift and decisive action.

The move to dissolve Division Martel comes in the wake of a tragic incident in the village of Crepol in the Drome department of southeastern France on the night of Nov 18.

A fight broke out during a winter ball, resulting in the stabbing death of 16-year-old Thomas Perotto and injuries to 18 others.

Darmanin had previously announced measures to dissolve three far-right groups, including Division Martel, which was implicated in organizing violent incidents following Perotto's death.

In the ongoing investigation into the Crepol incident, nine suspects were detained on charges of murder and "attempted murder in a group."

Six of the detainees have been ordered to stand trial while being held in custody.

The violent incidents that followed Perotto's death, attributed to far-right individuals, led to heightened concerns about the rise of extremism and the need for decisive government intervention.

Six individuals involved in the post-incident violence have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 10 months, signaling a commitment to holding those responsible for acts of violence accountable.