The French Parliament has voted in accordance with government plans to extend the French state of emergency until July 15, 2017. The state of emergency was declared in November 2015 after the attacks in Paris and has already been extended by half a year. According to the government, the additional powers are necessary to combat terrorism, but human rights groups question the use of the measures. According to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the police abuse the new powers they've obtained through the state of emergency.