Lois scélérates

As lois scélérates ( German about: The abominable laws) is a series of French laws that were enacted in 1893 and 1894 as a response to anarchist bombings. The laws should restrict the provisions for freedom of the press in 1871 in the third French Republic and prevent the anarchist agitation.

The first law was adopted on December 11, 1893, two days after the bombing of Auguste Vaillant in the French National Assembly in which about 50 people were injured. In this law, the support of criminal acts was expressly forbidden that repressive measures against anarchist papers like Le Père Peinard meant. A week later, a second law was passed, which was directed against individuals who were directly or indirectly involved in propaganda of the deed actions, even if the act was not performed. The last law of this lois scélérates was adopted on 28 July 1894 and forbade any anarchist and anti-militarist propaganda.

During this time, over 400 anarchists were arrested, what on Sadi Carnot reached a new peak after the assassination of Sante Geronimo Caserio.

The term is still used today for hard and unjust laws, especially laws designed to combat terrorism.