According to Amnesty International: "State efforts to repress the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association have intensified during a period that has encompassed a highly contested Presidential election, attacks by Boko Haram and a severe ongoing economic crisis provoked by a sharp drop in the price of crude oil. [...] In a growing number of cases, because of the history of banning assemblies, associations have decided to organize peaceful demonstrations without notifying the authorities nor seeking prior authorization. In most cases, they have just communicated about their plans through press conferences, public statements or social media. This is something they should be able to do, according to international treaties ratified by Chad, without rendering the assembly unlawful. However, in such cases, the authorities have resorted to the use of excessive force – beating [...] protesters, using tear gas and in some cases using live ammunition – to break up peaceful protests and arrest protesters. [...] On 17 February, hundreds of people – mostly women – gathered in front of the High Court of N’Djamena to call for investigations into both Zouhoura’s rape and the killing of Hassan. Protesters were singing the national anthem and holding banners when about 20 police officers arrived and requested them to leave the venue. They refused and a few minutes later, a policeman fired two warning shots in the air and the police dispersed the protesters using tear gas" ^[+]