FILE: Paris - June 28, 2006\r
1. Various of immigrants queueing to file papers at police station\r
Paris - 17 September, 2007\r
2. Exterior of French National Assembly building\r
3. Thierry Mariani, Parliamentarian with Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party at his desk\r
4. Cutaway of immigration report written by Mariani\r
5. SOUNDBITE: (French) Thierry Mariani, Parliamentarian with UMP party:\r
There is a real problem with fraudulent documents. That is to say, we know very well that in certain countries in Asia or Africa - Italy has compiled a list, Belgium has compiled a list - the civil status papers are not always real. The bureaucrats are poorly paid. The corruption is to such a degree that it is easy to buy fake papers. So what were simply asking is that the right for a family to live together - parents have the right to live with their children - is on the condition that it is actually their real family, either biological or adopted.\r
FILE: Dates and Locations unknown\r
6. Various of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing laboratory\r
Paris - 17 September, 2007\r
7. Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights, seated at her desk\r
8. Close-up of press release by International Federation for Human Rights reading (in English) A Family doesnt come from a DNA test tube.\r
9. SOUNDBITE: (French) Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights: \r
France is becoming a xenophobic state because these measures allowing foreigners to come to France on the condition of having to take a DNA test, is absolutely unjustifiable. This is a discriminatory measure. This is an arbitrary measure.\r
Creteil - 17 September, 2007\r
10. Exterior of refugee centre France Terre dAsile with refugees at the entrance\r
11. Various of refugees inside centre\r
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gemechis Bobo, Ethiopian refugee:\r
This DNA technique is very important. Maybe, for example, it may open a door for other legal immigrants to come to France and block the way for illegal immigrants, so I personally support it.\r
13. Tilt up from Sri Lankan girl to her father eating lunch\r
14. Wide of Sri Lankan refugee family eating lunch \r
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brabaharan Balasubramaniam, Sri Lankan refugee: \r
You say now we are going to bring my family (to France), then I can give you my DNA to test my mother or sister - it doesnt matter.\r
Paris - 17 September, 2007\r
16. Mariani speaking \r
17. SOUNDBITE: (French) Thierry Mariani, Parliamentarian with UMP party:\r
Frankly this is controversial, but it doesnt pose any problems in eleven other countries. I always cite these countries, but in Denmark - a Scandinavian country - in Sweden, in Finland, in the Netherlands, these countries where individual freedoms are as respected as in France, maybe even more, it (DNA testing) has existed for many years. It has existed for many years because we look at what is practical before creating a polemic.\r
18. Belhassen at desk\r
19. SOUNDBITE: (French) Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights: \r
For the moment its (DNA testing) voluntary, but tomorrow it will be obligatory.\r
FILE: Paris - June 28, 2006\r
20. Immigrant child in front of police station while family is queuing for papers\r
STORYLINE: \r
France is considering asking for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) tests from visa applicants seeking to join family members already in the country, the immigration minister said last week.\r
A measure allowing consular officials to request DNA tests is included in a sweeping immigration law to be debated in the lower house of parliament starting on Tuesday. \r
The bill is part of French President Nicolas Sarkozys controversial campaign to stem illegal immigration. \r
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