France shuts down climate activist group, saying it provoked violence

France is shutting down the environmental activist group Les Soulevements de la Terre (SLT) for provoking armed protests or violent actions, the government said on Wednesday, a move immediately criticized by the leftist opposition and NGOs.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has referred several times to “eco-terrorism” in relation to SLT actions in recent months, saying some activists had showed “extreme violence against police forces”.

“Under the pretence of defending the conservation of the environment … this group encourages sabotage and material damage”, said a government decree announcing the shutdown of the group.

The decree referred to several protests that resulted in clashes with police, including those against a farm reservoir in western France in March and a rail link in the Alps last week.

Read more: Reuters