Key findings of the study
1. There is a strong consensus on the definition of the most serious forms of torture, but certain intermediate coercive practices, such as prolonged isolation, remain partly commonplace.
2. Torture remains widely condemned as a matter of principle, but its absolute rejection is gradually being replaced by conditional acceptability in situations presented as exceptional, notably in the context of the fight against terrorism.
3. Tolerance of torture is partly based on a persistent belief in its effectiveness in obtaining confessions/information or preventing terrorism.
4. Torture is mostly perceived as a practice external to the State and to France, attributed to illegitimate actors or authoritarian regimes, which contributes to its distancing.
5. It is not a cause that mobilizes public opinion to any great extent, notably because the majority of French people feel personally protected against this risk.
