Australian tourist says Paris police questioned him and teenage brother without explanation
Australian tourist Ahmed Assaad says French police stopped and questioned him and his teenage brother in Paris without explaining why. He filmed part of the encounter, which ended without further incident, and the video has prompted debate over police checks and how officers should identify themselves.
Assaad says officers took their passports, alleged the pair were armed and swore at them before he began recording; the footage shows an identification check and an officer appearing to block the phone. The article says the French National Police was contacted for comment. Australia’s Smartraveller advises carrying photo ID in France, where police may conduct random checks, and recommends a high degree of caution amid risks of unrest and demonstrations.
In short
- Australian tourist says Paris police stopped him and his brother without explanation.
- His video prompted divided reactions online.
- Australian travel advice says to carry photo identification in France.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Police may argue that identity checks, including checks made without a specific suspicion, help them enforce the law and respond to security concerns in a busy city. Officers may also need to manage filming during an encounter to protect safety, privacy or the conduct of their work, while still being expected to act professionally and explain their actions where appropriate.
The case against
Travellers and civil-liberties advocates may argue that checks without a clear explanation can feel arbitrary and undermine trust, especially when officers are alleged to have used insulting language or made an unsupported claim that someone was armed. They may also see recording as a reasonable way to document an encounter and favour clear rules requiring officers to identify themselves and explain the basis for a check.
Explained simply
Police in France can carry out identity checks, including on visitors, and people may be asked to show documents such as a passport. Australia’s Smartraveller advises travellers to carry photo ID and notes that demonstrations and unrest can occur.
The incident involves Australian visitor Ahmed Assaad and his teenage brother, as well as the French officers who stopped them. It has drawn attention to how police checks are conducted and how officers identify themselves; the French National Police was contacted for comment.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Dream European holiday turns into a nightmare as Aussie tourists accuse police of targeting them for no reason: ‘They took our passports’”.