According to reports (1, 2) and video recorded by the complainant, a female student was insulted with sexist language when she questioned the way in which police officers were treating a third party. The police officers then arrested and handcuffed her, with passers-by at the scene protesting this arbitrary arrest.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the police authorities must be governed by certain principles, including the principle of legality, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition of the abuse of police power and the respect for and protection of human rights.
The powers of the police authorities and the conduct to be displayed by them in the performance of their duties are regulated, inter alia, by Decree 141/1991 and Decree 254/2004.
Although the police may use force to enforce the law, this does not mean that all use of preventive or repressive force by the police is lawful. On the contrary, the arbitrary use of the power to use force and police action in excess of legal limits is a dangerous phenomenon for a democracy.
The alleged treatment of this female student however, appears to be outside the legal limits of police action.
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