French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira formally resigned earlier this week amid controversy surrounding a new anti-terrorism proposal. The hotly debated proposal seeks to strip French-born dual nationals of their citizenship if they are convicted of terrorism.
The New York Times describes the anti-terrorism proposal as a measure that “has struck at the core of France’s ideals of the rights of citizens, while underscoring the quandary the government faces as it confronts a widening threat from terrorists born and raised in France.”
Taubira, who hails from French Guiana, has come under fire and endured racist harassment throughout her career for her views on race and justice that have been deemed “divisive” and “extremely leftist.” In 2001, she was instrumental in establishing a law that recognized the Atlantic Slave Trade as a Crime Against Humanity. Her proposal for marriage equality in France was known as the “Taubira Law”.
Taubira also famously spoke out about racial injustice against African-Americans in the wake of Ferguson, Missouri. “Michael Brown, racial profiling, social exclusion, territorial segregation, cultural marginalization, guns, fear, fatal cocktail!,” she wrote first in French and then followed up her message with a series of tweets in English.
#MickaelBrown, Profilage racial, exclusion sociale, ségrégation territoriale, relégation culturelle…des armes, la peur…Fatal cocktail !
ChT
— Christiane Taubira (@ChTaubira) November 25, 2014
#MickaelBrown, who does believe that race still exists? ever existed? Who will replace you in the sky of our promising sprouts? None!
ChT
— Christiane Taubira (@ChTaubira) November 25, 2014
How old was #Mickael Brown ? 18. #TrayvonMartin ? 17. #TamirRice? 12. How old next? 12 month? ‘Kill them before they grow’ Bob Marley
ChT
— Christiane Taubira (@ChTaubira) November 25, 2014
Taubira made the recent decision to step down from her job right before the anti-terrorism proposal was brought up before parliament.
“I left the government over a major political disagreement,” said Taubira.
“I am choosing to be true to myself, to my commitments, my battles and my relationships with other people.”
President Francois Hollande accepted Taubira’s resignation, and released a statement, which also praised her achievements in pushing same-sex marriage laws.
“They agreed on the need to bring her role to an end at a time when debate on constitutional revision begins in the National Assembly, today,” the statement read.
While no one is sure what’s next for Christiane Taubira, it’s clear from her statements that she will remain on the national and international stage in the name of justice, in some capacity. Meanwhile, France remains in a formal state of emergency, which is to expire on February 26, and will most likely be renewed.
