Article 601 — Restraint of the Free Exercise of Civil Rights.

(1) Whoever by intimidation, violence, fraud or any other unlawful means: a) prevents a person from exercising his civil rights granted by the Constitution or other laws, especially his right as a parent or a guardian, his right to bring a legal action or to appear before the Courts; or b) compels him to exercise such rights in a particular way, is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding three years, or fine. (2) The restraint of the free exercise of political rights especially the right of voting and election, is punishable under the special provision of this Code (Art. 467).