New French discrimination law protects Algerian accents

Three-year jail term now the maximum penalty for mocking people over the way they speak

A new French law aims to protect people who do not speak like educated Parisians. AFP

People in France who discriminate against others based on their accent could be jailed for up to three years after a new law deemed the practice as “a form of racism”.

The law, overwhelmingly approved by 98 votes to three in France’s lower house of parliament, puts accent discrimination on the same level as racism, sexism and discrimination against the disabled.

The maximum penalty for people found guilty of the offence is three years’ jail and a fine of €45,000 (£40,000, $53,000).

The law aims to protect people who do not speak like educated Parisians.

France has a long history of accent rivalry dating from the 16th century with state attempts to eradicate regional dialects.

Last month, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left France Insoumise (France Unbowed) movement, was caught on camera being rude to a journalist with a southern accent who asked him a question at the National Assembly.

"Can someone ask me a question in French? And (make it) a bit more understandable," he said, addressing a group of reporters in a video clip which was widely circulated on social media.

The law, proposed by centre-right MP Christophe Euzet, was the subject of animated debate in the house, despite the overwhelming vote.

"At a time when the 'visible' minorities benefit from the legitimate attention of public authorities, the 'audible' minorities are the main forgotten people of the social contract based on equality," Mr Euzet argued.

Maina Sage, deputy for French Polynesia, spoke of the difficulties that can be encountered by people, like her, speaking with an accent from outside the French mainland.

Patricia Miralles, the daughter of North Africans, spoke of the "mockery" that she encountered in her younger days over her Algerian accent, which she briefly reprised in the parliamentary chamber.

Other members of parliament denounced the fact that too many broadcasters with a strong accent get pigeonholed into reporting on rugby or reading the weather bulletin.

On the other hand, Jean Lassalle, of the opposition Libertes et territoires party, voted against the law.

"I'm not asking for charity, I'm not demanding to be protected because I am who I am," he said in his strong south-west France accent.

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, a former lawyer, said he was "very convinced" about the need for the new law.