A gold pocket watch that belonged to the richest man who traveled on the Titanic is being sold at auction, DPA reported. It could be worth up to £150,000 ($187,743).
Businessman John Jacob Astor died at the age of 47 when the Titanic sank in 1912. His wife was rescued.
Instead of evacuating on one of the lifeboats, the prominent member of the wealthy Astor family was last seen smoking a cigarette and talking to another passenger.
His body was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean seven days later and a fine 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch engraved with the initials JJA was found in his clothing.
The watch is expected to fetch between £100,000 and £150,000. It was sold at the auction house “Henry Aldridge & Son” on Saturday last week.
“Astor is known as the richest passenger on board the Titanic and is believed to be among the wealthiest people in the world at the time, with a net worth of approximately $87 million, which equates to several billion dollars today,” said auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.
“Shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to fill with water. At first Astor did not believe the ship was in serious danger, but later it became clear that it was sinking and the captain began an evacuation . John helps his wife into lifeboat number 4,” added the auctioneer.
Mrs. Astor survived, and her husband’s body was recovered on April 22, not far from the sinking site.
“The watch has been fully restored. It was returned to Mr. Astor’s family and was worn by his son. It is a unique piece of Titanic history,” Aldridge added.
Illustrative Photo by Fredrick Eankels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stylish-gold-vintage-watch-with-chain-4082639/
The National Library of France has placed four books from the 19th century “under quarantine”, reported AFP.
The reason is that their covers contain arsenic.
The discovery was made about five years ago. University scientists have discovered the chemical element in the covers.
The German-American research program Poison Book Project deals with such publications. Most of the arsenic-containing books discovered so far are located in the United States.
The National Library of France has compared identified books in other countries with its catalog by title. After analysis, it turned out that only four volumes of the 28 originally selected contained a large enough amount of the poisonous element.
The editions have been quarantined and will undergo a comprehensive laboratory analysis to determine the amount of arsenic in each, the cultural institution said in a statement.
The four books whose covers contain arsenic were printed in Great Britain. These are two volumes of Irish ballads collected by Edward Hayes in 1855, a bilingual anthology of Romanian poetry published in 1856, as well as collected scientific works of the British Royal Society of Horticulture from 1862-1863. Arsenic is contained in the Schweinfurt green, used for covers in the period 1790-1880. The color was used in English-speaking countries and in Germany, rarely in France.
In theory, there is a possibility that readers of the books will get sick or vomit. The National Library announced to AFP that the risk is minimal. In recent years, no poisoning with such covers has been found anywhere in the world.
Libraries in Germany began a search of their holdings in March for the possible discovery of poisoned covers. Dozens of analyzes have been done. No results have been announced yet, AFP notes.
Illustrative Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/four-pile-of-books-on-top-of-brown-wooden-surface-1290828/
Mr. Guterres was saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by flash flooding in the capital, Nairobi, and other parts of the country, his spokesperson said on Monday.
The Secretary-General extended his condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Kenya.
On Monday, rescue teams were searching for survivors after a dam burst in Mai Mahiu in western Kenya, killing at least 35 people, according to international media reports.
The heavy rains began in March, killing more than 100 people across the country since then. This season’s flash flooding follows similarly heavy rains that began late last year, affecting almost 600,000 people.
Solidarity and support
The UN Resident Representative in Kenya, Dr. Stephen Jackson, also expressed solidarity with the people and government during an event to distribute emergency aid to flood survivors, which was led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
More than 300 households received aid, provided through the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, that included food, mattresses, blankets, water tanks, mosquito nets and equipment to help them rebuild.
“Together, we are taking steps to meet urgent needs. What worries me is how Kenya is currently facing a climate emergency that it did not cause – drought and floods,” said Dr. Jackson.
The UN team on the ground has been working closely with national and international partners since the start of the flooding to help support nearly 25,000 people with food and non-food items directly.
Meanwhile, UNHCR in Kenya said the heavy rains are causing serious flooding and displacement at the Dadaab refugee camps, located in the north.
“Many refugees have been forced from their homes, seeking shelter in schools and on higher ground,” said UNHCR Representative to Kenya Caroline Van Buren, writing on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The agency is coordinating with local government authorities, including to move people to safety.
In recent days, demonstrations unfolding through tented encampments on school grounds – sparked by students at New York’s prestigious Columbia University who are demanding authorities divest from Israel due to its occupation and military assault on Gaza – have spread nationwide.
University authorities from the west to east coast have taken different approaches, ranging from Columbia’s initial response to authorise police to clear protests by force to continuing negotiations and allowing the encampments to remain.
Columbia’s protesters ignored an ultimatum from the university to leave the camp or risk suspension on Monday. Early on Tuesday morning, students took over historic Hamilton Hall on campus, barricading themselves inside.
The building was one of those occupied in civil rights and Viet Nam war protests by students in 1968.
The university president announced earlier on Monday that dialogue with protesters had failed, and the institution would not bow to demands to divest from Israel.
Universities should ‘properly manage’ protest response: Guterres
“First of all I think it is essential in all circumstances to guarantee the freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful demonstration but at the same time it is obvious that hate speech is unacceptable”, he said.
It should be left up to university authorities themselves to “properly manage” the situation and decide on the appropriate response to the protests, he added.
Right to protest is ‘fundamental’
In his statement on Tuesday, UN rights chief Volker Türk said that freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly were “fundamental to society”, particularly when there is sharp disagreement on major issues as there is in relation to the conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
He noted that in recent weeks, thousands of university students in the US have been protesting the war, and many demonstrations have taken place without incident.
But, there have also been hundreds of arrests following interventions on some campuses by security forces. Many have subsequently been released while others still face charges or academic sanctions.
Action taken by authorities and law enforcement officials to restrict such expression needs to be carefully scrutinised to ensure they do not go beyond what is demonstrably necessary to protect the rights and freedoms of others or for another legitimate aim, such as the maintenance of public health or order, Mr. Türk said.
Incitement to violence ‘must be strongly repudiated’
“I am concerned that some of law enforcement actions across a series of universities appear disproportionate in their impacts,” he stressed.
The rights chief emphasised that any clearly anti-Semitic conduct and speech was totally unacceptable and deeply disturbing. Anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian conduct and speech are equally reprehensible, he said.
“Incitement to violence or hatred on grounds of identity or viewpoints – whether real or assumed – must be strongly repudiated,” he continued. “We have already seen such dangerous rhetoric can quickly lead to real violence.”
He said any violent conduct should be addressed on a case-by-case basis rather than through sweeping measures “that impute to all members of a protest the unacceptable viewpoints of a few”.
A message of thanks to students around the world protesting events in Gaza is displayed on a tent in the south of the enclave.
Human rights law
“Here, as elsewhere, responses by universities and law enforcement need to be guided by human rights law, allowing vibrant debate and protecting safe spaces for all.”
The High Commissioner emphasised that any restrictions to fundamental freedoms of expression must be guided by “legality, necessity and proportionality” and applied without discrimination.
“US universities have a strong, historic tradition of student activism, strident debate and freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Mr. Türk said.
“It must be clear that legitimate exercises of the freedom of expression cannot be conflated with incitement to violence and hatred.”
Protesters demonstrate outside the Columbia University campus in New York City.
On the occasion of Europe Day, citizens will have the opportunity to visit all the EU institutions in Brussels and beyond, learning more about what Europe does for and with them.
European Parliament
The Europe Day event in the European Parliament on 4 May will start with an opening ceremony with Vice-President Marc Angel (S&D, LU). The day will continue with activities for all ages, with info stands and short sessions on fight against disinformation, women in politics and campaigning for the elections. Citizens will be invited to learn how to vote in the European elections, why voting matters, and how to make a difference in protecting democracy. There will be guided tours of the VOTE exhibition (Parlamentarium) in Brussels. See the full programme here and the events organised in the 27 EU countries here.
Council of the European Union
On 4 May, at the Council in Brussels, visitors will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of EU leaders. Guided tours will be organised throughout the day, without prior registration, allowing citizens to explore also the architecture of the Council buildings. Younger visitors will enjoy a series of dedicated animations including a treasure hunt. Each of the 27 Member States will have a stand putting on display national traditions, food specialities and touristic attractions. Visitors will be able to discover these in an interactive manner and attend live performances. An exhibition will be dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement. More information available here.
European Commission
On 4 May, citizens are invited to visit the Berlaymont building. The Commission will give citizens the opportunity to learn about its role, explore thematic villages set up for the occasion and discover the history of the EU and our values. Visitors will have the chance to find out what the Commission does to defend our democracy, diversity and how we are building a more digital and greener future. A dedicated section will showcase our support to Ukraine. Special activities will highlight the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement, 25 years of the euro and 30 years of the Single Market. The full programme is available here. The Representations in the Member States will also organise events.
European Central Bank
Citizens will have the chance to learn about the euro, the common currency of 20 EU countries, the digital euro project and what the ECB does to keep prices stable and banks safe and sound. On 4 May, citizens will be able to meet ECB experts at the European Commission in Brussels (more information here). Also that evening, the ECB will open its doors in Frankfurt to pre-registered visitors as part of the “Night of the Museums” initiative and on 9 May will join Frankfurt’s Europe Festival.
European Court of Auditors
On 9 May, EU auditors in Luxembourg will offer interactive engaging games, and a possibility for citizens to take a quiz to test their audit skills. Families and people of all ages will be able to learn how the Court helps to protect EU citizens’ money. Full programme here.
European External Action Service
Visitors to the European External Action Service are invited on 4 May to immerse themselves in the dynamic work of the EU diplomatic service in Brussels and around the world. They will engage in talks with EU ambassadors and learn about the EU’s role in promoting peace, human rights and sustainable development in the world. They will enjoy live music, dance performances, workshops and collect culinary inspirations from various places around the world. The immersive journey will be further enriched with screenings of diverse movies in the cinema room. Kids will be our special guests with a lot of fun activities, including a puppet show. Full programme here.
European Economic and Social Committee
The house of EU organised civil society will open its doors in Brussels on 4 May. The Committee members will engage in lively discussions with people and will hear their concerns. The programme of the day includes interactive games, an EU quiz, live music and activities for children. When visiting the EESC building, citizens will also be able to welcome EESC members and staff as they finish a cycling race to raise awareness on the European elections. Full agenda here.
European Committee of the Regions
The EU’s assembly of regions and cities will open its Brussels premises on 4 May to bring citizens together with regional and local elected politicians. Interactive stands and activities will offer the chance to get to know more about the Committee of the Regions’ role and commitment to narrowing the distance between the EU and its local communities. To mark the day – and the Committee’s 30th anniversary – there will be a festival of regions and cities with tastings, quiz games and a digital show, providing an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our territories. More information here.
European Investment Bank
At the European Investment Bank’s stand for Europe Day in Brussels on 4 May and in Luxembourg on 9 May (see details here), visitors can explore the iconic projects financed by the Bank in their country. They may also discover EIB-funded initiatives such as local hospitals, transportation infrastructure like trains or metros, or flood barriers safeguarding their hometowns. They will be able to engage with EU-related information and participate in a quiz for a chance to win a prize!
Background
On 9 May, Europe commemorates the founding document of the EU – the Schuman Declaration. Signed on 9 May 1950, the declaration was the stepping-stone to cooperation in Europe, and peace on our continent. Europe Day is a symbol of the EU’s openness, transparency, democracy, and unity.
This year’s Europe Day edition takes place 45 years after the first European elections in 1979, and shortly before the elections of 2024 that will take place between 6-9 June in all EU countries.
A new image from the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, which includes researchers and telescopes of the University of Arizona, has uncovered strong and organized magnetic fields spiraling from the edge of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, which in 2022 presented the first image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of our Milky Way, has captured a new view of the massive object, this time in polarized light. For the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarization, a signature of magnetic fields, this close to the edge of the black hole. The lines mark the orientation of polarization, which is related to the magnetic field around the black hole’s shadow. Image credit: EHT Collaboration
Seen in polarized light for the first time, this new view of the monster lurking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy has revealed a magnetic field structure strikingly similar to that of a much more massive black hole, known as M87*, at the center of the M87 galaxy, suggesting that strong magnetic fields may be common to all black holes. This similarity also hints toward a hidden jet in Sgr A*. The results were published on March 27 in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Scientists unveiled the first image of Sgr A*— which is approximately 27,000 light-years from Earth – in 2022, revealing that while the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole is more than a thousand times smaller and less massive than M87’s, it looks remarkably similar. This made scientists wonder whether the two shared common traits outside of their looks. To find out, the team decided to study Sgr A* in polarized light. Previous studies of light around M87* revealed that the magnetic fields around the black hole giant allowed it to launch powerful jets of material back into the surrounding environment. Building on this work, the new images have revealed that the same may be true for Sgr A*.
Boris Georgiev, an EHT postdoctoral researcher at UArizona’s Steward Observatory and co-author on the study, said: “The consistency of magnetic field structures around Sgr A* and M87* suggests that the processes by which black holes feed and eject jets into their surroundings may be universal, despite their vast differences in size and mass.”
“What we’re seeing now is that there are strong, twisted and organized magnetic fields near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy,” said Sara Issaoun, NASA Hubble Fellowship Program Einstein Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and co-lead of the project. “Along with Sgr A* having a strikingly similar polarization structure to that seen in the much larger and more powerful M87* black hole, we’ve learned that strong and ordered magnetic fields are critical to how black holes interact with the gas and matter around them.”
Light is a moving oscillation of electric and magnetic fields that allows us to see objects. Sometimes, light oscillates in a preferred
orientation, also known as polarized. Although polarized light surrounds us, to human eyes it is indistinguishable from “normal,” or non-polarized, light. In the plasma around these black holes, particles whirling around magnetic field lines impart a polarization pattern perpendicular to the field. This allows astronomers to see in increasingly vivid detail what is happening in black hole regions and map their magnetic field lines.
“By imaging polarized light from hot glowing gas near black holes, we are directly inferring the structure and strength of the magnetic fields that thread the flow of gas and matter that the black hole feeds on and ejects,” said Angelo Ricarte, Harvard Black Hole Initiative Fellow and project co-lead. “Polarized light teaches us a lot more about the astrophysics, the properties of the gas and mechanisms that take place as a black hole feeds.”
But imaging black holes in polarized light isn’t as easy as putting on a pair of polarized sunglasses, and this is particularly true of Sgr A*, which is changing so fast that it doesn’t sit still for pictures. Imaging the supermassive black hole requires sophisticated tools above and beyond those previously used for capturing M87*, a much steadier target. Dan Marrone, EHT co-principal investigator and a co-author of the paper who is a professor of astronomy at Steward Observatory, and his team developed instruments that detected the polarized radio waves for this result.
“Similar to the way that polarized light can tell us the orientation of the surface it is bouncing off of, such as windows or roads, it can also show us the orientation of magnetic fields around black holes,” Marrone said. “Because the magnetic fields change rapidly around Sgr A*, turning EHT observations into polarized images was a huge challenge. We’re really proud that our data carries enough information.””
Scientists say they are excited to have images of both supermassive black holes in polarized light because these images, and the data that come with them, provide new ways to compare and contrast black holes with different sizes and environments. As technology improves, the images are likely to reveal even more secrets of black holes and their similarities or differences.
“These findings help us improve our computer models and theories and give us a better idea of what happens to matter close to a black hole’s event horizon,” added co-author Chi-kwan Chan, a UArizona professor of astronomy who focuses on theoretical modeling of black holes.
The EHT has conducted several observations since 2017. Each year, the images improve as the EHT incorporates new telescopes, larger bandwidth and new observing frequencies.
“We are developing hardware and software to automate EHT observations, thereby enabling the EHT to make more frequent observations in the future in order to capture movies of black holes,” said Amy Lowitz, an EHT research scientist at Steward Observatory who leads the EHT Agility Project.
Such observations, spanning several months, are one of the primary objectives for the EHT for the coming years, according to Remo Tilanus, a UArizona professor and the EHT operation manager who oversees the observation campaigns and technical developments.
“With the capabilities of the Agility Project, we should be able to see material swirling around M87* and being ejected into its jets,” Tilanus said.
Planned expansions for the next decade will also enable high-fidelity movies, may reveal a hidden jet in Sgr A* and will allow astronomers to observe similar polarization features in other black holes. There are even plans in the works to extend the EHT into space, providing much sharper images of black holes and enabling much more powerful studies of black hole rotation and the mechanisms that power black hole jets.
The EHT is scheduled to observe Sgr A* again in April, keeping the EHT UArizona team busy. Together with Lowitz and Georgiev, postdoctoral researcher Andrew Thomas West and graduate student Jasmin Washington are currently preparing the Submillimeter Telescope on Mount Graham and the 12-meter radio telescope of the Arizona Radio Observatory on Kitt Peak for the upcoming observation.
Washington, who participated in the 2021 observing campaign as a first-year graduate student, said she enjoyed the experience and is excited to be able to return this year.
“We’ll be observing with more telescopes than ever before, giving us better coverage and more sensitivity to make these polarized measurements,” she said.
West added: “Measuring with very high fidelity how these sources have changed since they were last observed will inform our models and allow us to answer fundamental questions about the physics in these extreme environments – it is very exciting!”
In the past month, WFP supported more than 300,000 people there with food, including 40,000 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
“We must be able to reach those who need us most in Sudan,” Executive Director Cindy McCain wrote in a post on social media.
Separately, UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffiths warned that an escalation of hostilities there would be “catastrophic”.
Civilians in El Fasher are already struggling to survive hunger and deprivation, and they must be spared from violence, he wrote on social media.
El Fasher has more than 330,000 people facing acute food insecurity, and nearly half of its residents are internally displaced.
Over the weekend, the UN Security Council appealed for the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the military build-up and take steps to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher.
The call came amid reports of an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militia, which could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons currently sheltering in the city.
Iraq urged to shelve new law criminalising same-sex relations
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has urged Iraq to discard a new law that criminalises consensual same-sex relations and other forms of private consensual behaviour with heavy jail sentences.
“The law runs contrary to several human rights treaties and conventions ratified by Iraq, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and should be shelved,” spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Monday.
She added that “everyone, without distinction, is entitled to enjoy all human rights, including the right to privacy, the right to be treated as equal before the law and the right to protection from discrimination on various grounds that include sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Under the new law, those found guilty of “establishing a homosexual relationship” will face 10 to 15 years in jail, while anyone who “promotes homosexuality” will be imprisoned for at least seven years and fined at least 10 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $7,600).
Additionally, anyone accessing or performing gender-affirming medical treatments will face up to three years behind bars, and people who dress in clothing associated with the opposite gender will receive jail terms of up to three years or a fine of at least 5 million Iraqi dinars.
Chad: Guterres appeals for restraint ahead of presidential election
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged stakeholders in Chad to ensure a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible vote as the country prepares for the first round of presidential elections next week.
“The Secretary-General encourages all political leaders to refrain from any acts or discourse that could undermine a peaceful process, to overcome any disagreements through dialogue and to address complaints that may arise through established legal channels,” his spokesperson said on Monday.
Chadians go to the polls on 6 May. The elections are part of the transition back to democracy after three years of military rule following the death of President Idris Deby in April 2021.
The longtime leader died fighting rebels in the north and his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, was installed as head of the Transitional Military Council.
The younger Mr. Deby promised a return to civilian rule and elections within 18 months, but extended the transition by two years.
The Secretary-General reiterated UN commitment to continue to support efforts towards building a peaceful and prosperous future in Chad.
Since 22 March, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure sustained four waves of attacks that killed six people, injured at least 45 and struck at least 20 facilities.
Just this past Saturday alone, missile attacks damaged four thermal power plants critical for electricity generation. Two of the plants are located in western Ukraine, far from the frontline.
Danielle Bell, Head of Mission at HRMMU, said, “These attacks have caused civilian deaths, and they also jeopardise essential services such as power generation and rail transport, further compounding the risks and harm affecting the civilian population of Ukraine.”
Recent attacks on Ukraine’s railway system have claimed the lives of at least 11 civilians and injured dozens in regions like Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Cherkasy.
Those killed in the attacks were railway and power station workers who were either in or near the vicinity.
“Attacks on the railway system threaten a key mode of transportation that people in Ukraine depend on for personal travel and transport of essential goods, particularly given the restriction on all air traffic and limited access to seaports,” Ms. Bell said.
Power and water supply affected
Within the last week, Ukrainian railway facilities saw three attacks, leaving civilians dead and injured. On 25 April, a missile strike killed three railway employees and injured four in Udachne in Donetsk.
That same day, several other employees were injured in a missile attack on a railway facility in Smila, located in the Cherkasy region.
In Balakliia in the Kharkiv region, 11 people were injured in a missile attack that caused damage to the railway station and a train that had just arrived. Eight more people also lost their lives due to railway attacks in Synelnykove and Dnipro.
HRMMU added that power outages frequently occurred in the immediate aftermath of attacks on energy infrastructure, affecting millions across the country and also leading to interruptions to the water supply.
Embark on a journey through the latest Alienware gaming setup, where cutting-edge technology meets sleek design. In this comprehensive article, we’ll delve into each component of the setup, from the monitor to the peripherals and the powerful gaming PC at its core.
Gaming set. Illustrative photo. Image credit: FOX via pexels.com
At the heart of the Alienware gaming setup lies the QD OLED monitor, a 32-inch marvel boasting 4K resolution and OLED technology. With vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a lightning-fast 240Hz refresh rate, this monitor delivers an unparalleled visual experience for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts alike.
Cutting-edge peripherals: pro wireless gaming mouse and keyboard
Accompanying the QD OLED monitor are Alienware’s latest peripherals: the Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse and Keyboard. With features like customizable RGB lighting, magnetic force key plates, and optical switches, these peripherals offer precision and comfort for long gaming sessions.
Complete your gaming experience with the 720 Hz Dual Mode Wireless Gaming Headset, designed for immersive audio and crystal-clear communication. With high-res audio capabilities, noise-cancelling microphones, and lightweight construction, this headset ensures comfort and performance for extended gaming sessions.
Powering the experience: Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop
Driving the entire setup is the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC, equipped with top-tier components like the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-13900F processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070. With customizable configurations, including memory options up to 68 GB and storage options up to 4TB, this PC offers unparalleled performance for gaming and multitasking.
Unboxing and setup experience
Experience the excitement of unboxing the Alienware gaming setup, where every component is meticulously designed and carefully packaged. From the sleek design of the monitor stand to the integrated peripherals and compact form factor of the gaming PC, the setup offers a seamless blend of style and functionality.
Performance and noise levels
Explore the performance capabilities of the Alienware gaming setup, from smooth gameplay on the QD OLED monitor to responsive input from the Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse and Keyboard. With liquid cooling and optimized airflow, the setup maintains quiet operation even under heavy load, ensuring an immersive gaming experience without distraction.
In conclusion, the Alienware gaming setup represents the pinnacle of gaming technology, offering a comprehensive solution for gamers seeking the ultimate immersive experience. With state-of-the-art components, customizable configurations, and sleek design, the setup delivers unparalleled performance and aesthetics, making it a must-have for any gaming enthusiast.
Paris, France, February 22, 2019: French Constitutional Council (Conseil Constitutionnel) located in the Palais Royal - Paris, France
On April 15th, over sixty members of the National Assembly and over sixty Senators referred the newly adopted law “to reinforce the fight against sectarian abuses” to the Constitutional Council for an a priori control of constitutionality pursuant to Article 61-2 of the Constitution.
The law creates new articles in the penal code in order to criminalize the act of “psychological subjugation” and the promotion of therapeutic or preventative unconventional practices.
In support of the argumentation developed by the Members of Parliament in their referral, the External Contribution below has been filed at the Council on Friday 26 April.
EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTION
Patricia Duval, Attorney at the Paris Bar, temporarily non practicing.
1. On Article 3 which creates the specific offence of putting a person under a state of psychological or physical subjugation (former Article 2)
In support of the argumentation developed by the Senators of the Republican Party (LR), it is important to emphasise that the very concept of “psychological subjugation” has been invalidated by the European Court of Human Rights in its decision Jehovah’s Witnesses of Moscow v. Russia (C-302/02, 10 June 2010) – this decision being referred to in their argumentation concerning Article 12 (choice of treatment and freedom to refuse blood transfusion).
In this case, the association Jehovah’s Witnesses of Moscow had referred to the European Court the decision of a Russian Court to dissolve their community.
The Court specifically reviewed the validity of the accusation by the Russian authorities that the right of citizens to freedom of conscience was violated because they were submitted to psychological pressure and “mind control” techniques.
After noting that members of this community testified before the Russian courts that they had made a free and voluntary choice of their religion and therefore followed its precepts of their own will, the Court found that there is no generally accepted and scientific definition of what constitutes “mind control” and that no definition of that term was given in the domestic judgments. (§ 128 et 129) [emphasis added]
Accordingly the Court ruled that “the findings of the Russian courts on this point were based on conjecture uncorroborated by fact” and found a violation by Russia of the right to freedom of religion or belief of the Jehovah’s Witnesses members.
Similarly, Article 3 of the law referred to the Constitutional Council criminalizes the fact of placing or maintaining a person under psychological subjugation (new Article 223-15-3 of the penal code) without providing any definition of this term and leaves it open to judges to conjecture on the definition, in violation of the Constitutional principle that offences and penalties must be defined by law.
In a report submitted to the Prime Minister in July 2008, Mr. George Fenech, former President of the Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combating Sectarian Abuses (MIVILUDES), delineated the theory which underlies French policy on “sectarian abuses”. This stated that consenting adult members of movements characterized as “sectarian” should be considered victims under subjugation and their consent considered null and void, even though those followers are mentally competent under civil law. (Report La justice face aux dérives sectaires, page 42)
This conception constitutes an outright violation of the right to freedom of thought and conscience as protected both by the French Constitution and the case-law of the European Court.
The imprecision of the term “psychological subjugation” in the Article submitted to the Council would force judges, in order to characterize the offence, to determine whether the suspected individual belongs to any of the movements listed as “sectarian” by the government services, in order to determine if his/her acts are likely to constitute a subjugation. In this regard, Article 14 of the new law provides the possibility for magistrates to consult any relevant government agencies (for example MIVILUDES) to clarify the application of new Article 223-15-3 of the penal code.
In a contribution to the MIVILUDES Report for 2008 (page 59), the Ministry of Internal Affairs brings further clarification on which criteria should be retained in order to characterize mental subjugation:
“The specific context of mental subjugation is characteristic of sectarian abuses. Repression should be initiated by the State when a number of criteria are met: – One or more individuals start to adhere to ideas differing from those which are usually shared by social consensus. The individual who adopts them is led to change his/her references, relations and actions. His/her life gets out of hand, being thereafter directed and conditioned by the psycho-sectarian manipulator.” [emphasis added]
The second criterion being when financial contributions are deemed to be excessive.
Those guidelines evidence the role of thought censorship that the government intends to play and impose on the judges.
During the tenth anniversary celebration of the law called About-Picard which created the offence of “abuse of weakness of persons under psychological subjugation” (which unfortunately was never referred to the Constitutional Council for review), the Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons admitted in her speech that “the process of mental subjugation is in itself difficult to characterize”. (2011-2012 Report of MIVILUDES page 58)
She added that directions circulated by the Ministry of Justice on 19 September 2011 urged the magistrates to determine whether the victims were under psychological subjugation by evaluating tangible factors such as “separation from family, professional and social environment, and refusal of conventional medical treatments”. (Report page 60)
Hence, refusal of conventional treatments constitutes a criterion for the government bodies to establish a state of subjugation and any group promoting natural health for example can be considered as liable of exerting mental subjugation.
The label of “sectarian abuse” is in itself totally improper as this category does not refer to excluding behaviour per the definition of the word “sectarian”, but to behaviour deemed undesirable by the Government and repressed as such.
It is thus clear that the element of psychological subjugation which is connected to it, and which was difficult to gauge according to the Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons under the existing law (Article 223-15-2 of the penal code), will be more so under the new Article 223-15-3 referred to the Council, since the objective element of the state of weakness of the individual has been removed.
New Article 223-15-3 created by Article 3 of the law would allow government bodies to exert an improper influence on the magistrates as to the interpretation to be given to the term “psychological subjugation” when it is the very component of the offence.
The government tried to mitigate those effects by introducing the following two sentences: “The government bodies do not assess the facts that the individual is accused of. The elements provided by the State bodies are communicated to the defense.”
These supposed guarantees will be totally ineffective since belonging to a movement labeled as “sectarian” by the State services will create in itself a presumption of guilt against the prosecuted individual. This presumption is deemed to be compensated for by the fact that the elements provided by the government will be communicated to the defense. However, our law is based on presumption of innocence and equality of arms between the prosecution and the defense, and not on a presumption of guilt fueled by the State’s information services.
The whole apparatus created by new Article 223-15-3 of the penal code infringes the principle that offences and penalties should be provided for and defined in law, and the right to a fair trial; it constitutes an interference of the executive power in judicial matters in blatant violation of our Constitution, as well as an infringement of the right to freedom of thought and conscience of our citizens.
2. On Article 12 which creates the offence of incitement to refuse treatment or to adhere to non-conventional practices (former Article 4)
Here again, the invalidity of the concept of psychological subjugation used in this Article to criminalize the authors or defenders of unconventional therapeutic or preventive practices is emphasised, in support of the appeals filed by the MPs of the Republican and National Coalition parties (LR and RN).
Article 12 creates a new Article 223-1-2 of the penal code, which criminalises “the incitement, through repeated pressures and actions on sick individuals, to have them discontinue or abstain from following a therapeutic or preventive medical treatment when this discontinuance or abstention is presented as beneficial for them, when it is, in the current state of medical knowledge, manifestly liable to entail, due to their pathology, very serious consequences for their physical or mental health.”
When the circumstances under which a potential offence occurred with the free and informed consent of the individual, especially in the presence of clear and complete information on the consequences for that person’s health, the offence is not characterized, “except if it is established that the individual was placed or maintained in a state of psychological subjugation” in the meaning of Article 223-15-3.
In this case, the state of “psychological subjugation” would make the free and informed consent of the patient invalid. This provision violates the right of patients to consent to the treatment of their choice or to refuse a proposed treatment, protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which in Article 3 (right to the integrity of the person) provides that in the field of medicine, “the free and informed consent of the person concerned, according to the procedures laid down by law” must be respected, as well as the 2002 Kouchner Law on the rights of patients.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in the above mentioned decision Jehovah’s Witnesses of Moscow v. Russia:
135. The very essence of the Convention is respect for human dignity and human freedom and the notions of self-determination and personal autonomy are important principles underlying the interpretation of its guarantees (see Pretty, cited above, §§ 61 and 65). The ability to conduct one’s life in a manner of one’s own choosing includes the opportunity to pursue activities perceived to be of a physically harmful or dangerous nature for the individual concerned. In the sphere of medical assistance, even where the refusal to accept a particular treatment might lead to a fatal outcome, the imposition of medical treatment without the consent of a mentally competent adult patient would interfere with his or her right to physical integrity and impinge on the rights protected under Article 8 of the Convention (see Pretty, cited above, §§ 62 and 63, and Acmanne and Others v. Belgium, no. 10435/83, Commission decision of 10 December 1984).
136. The freedom to accept or refuse specific medical treatment, or to select an alternative form of treatment, is vital to the principles of self-determination and personal autonomy. A competent adult patient is free to decide, for instance, whether or not to undergo surgery or treatment or, by the same token, to have a blood transfusion. However, for this freedom to be meaningful, patients must have the right to make choices that accord with their own views and values, regardless of how irrational, unwise or imprudent such choices may appear to others.
Article 223-1-2 which has been referred to the Council directly infringes these principles of self-determination and personal autonomy by creating criminal prosecution of the detractors of certain official medical treatments. It violates the right of patients to refuse treatment, by invalidating their choice under the imprecise and arbitrary concept of “psychological subjugation”, which is only established by the very choice of refusal of conventional treatments (abstract from the 2011 Circular cited above).
And the “incitement, through repeated pressures and actions” stated in the Article does not concern only individual relations between a practitioner and his patient for example, since paragraph 6 of the same Article provides that this offence can be “committed” through written press or audiovisual media”.
Additionally, the second paragraph of new Article 223-1-2 criminalizes “the incitement to adhere to practices presented as therapeutic or preventive when it is manifest, in the state of medical knowledge, that those practices entail a risk of immediate death or injuries leading to a mutilation or permanent disability.”
This represents a prohibition of any promotion of practices other than official medicine, even though they could be complementary, such as naturopathy or Chinese medicine for example, if the medical authorities approved by the Government have decided that their validity has not been sufficiently proven.
The infringement of the free choice of patients is flagrant, as well as of freedom of speech and opinion. These measures represent an interference which is disproportionate and not necessary for the purpose of health protection it is alleged to justify, as the existing legal provisions are by far sufficient to repress abuses, as stated in the various MPs appeals (repression of illegal practice of medicine, pharmacy, misleading commercial practices, etc.).
The actual purpose of these provisions is rather to prohibit any dissenting opinion concerning health by labeling it “sectarian” and prosecuting their author, as if democracy that prevails in France, does not apply to the area of health where the voice of the people should be muzzled.
The Government attempt to silence the critics by introducing a paragraph mentioning the protection of whistleblowers (Article 6 of the law of 9 December 2016) is ineffective. This restrictive provision concerns only the exposure of crimes and offences, or serious threats or risks to public interest.
But the detractors of certain treatments of conventional medicine, when they call into question a not sufficiently tested vaccine, do not expose any crime or offence established under penal law and the defenders of alternative practices, when they promote natural remedies, do not expose any serious threat or risk to public interest. They cannot therefore benefit from this protection.
Lastly, it should be underlined that the law referred to the Council has been passed by force at the National Assembly in spite of the opposition of the Senate and the Council of State. And this, two days after the French government voted for a Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the member States on countering the use of abusive lawsuits intended to limit public participation, in French poursuites-bâillons, meaning “muzzling lawsuits” – Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) adopted on 5 April 2024.
In this Recommendation, it is requested that the Member States “pay specific attention to SLAPPs [muzzling lawsuits] in the context of their reviews of relevant domestic laws, policies and practices, including in accordance with Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors, to ensure full conformity with member States’ obligations under the Convention”.
It would be logical that the Constitutional Council be the first to apply this Recommendation by censoring Article 12 of the law creating “muzzling lawsuits” which violate the rights protected by our Constitution.
For all the above reasons, as maintained by LR senators in their application, it is the entire apparatus created by the law which is liable to censure by the Council.
