France disbands climate group for 'violent protests'

PARIS

The French government issued a decree on Wednesday to disband a climate activist group for encouraging violence during protests within the country.

“The environmental collective The Uprisings of the Earth (SLT) was dissolved on Wednesday, June 21, in the Council of Ministers,” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced following their meeting.

The process to dissolve the SLT group was initiated in March following the activists' protests against a large irrigation reservoir near Sainte-Soline in western France.

The protests resulted in several injuries to police officers and left two activists in comas.

"No cause justifies the numerous and violent acts promoted and incited by the group," Darmanin quoted from the decree, which he shared on Twitter.

The activist group had denounced the decision, saying: “A very political and particularly worrying dissolution demanded directly from the head of state by the agro-industry and the FNSEA (National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions),” French magazine Le Point reported.

They had already announced their intention to seek legal action to overturn the decision.