Law of Suspects

The Law of Suspects is a term which is used to refer to an enactment passed on September 17 1793 during the course of the French Revolution. It allowed for the creation of revolutionary tribunals to try those who were suspected of treason against the Republic and to punish those convicted with death. The corollary of this was that both enforcement and justice subsequently became synonymous with revolutionary governance.

The law called for a general roundup of all suspects; it was a deeply comprehensive list, for example: those who, by their conduct, associations, comments, or writings have shown themselves partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of liberty [..]

Bibliography

• Projet de Décret sur le mode d'exécution du décret du 12 août, qui ordonne l'arrestation des gens suspects, presented to the Convention Nationale by Philippe-Antoine Merlin (de Douai) (Paris, 1793 )