Frence Riots July 2023 probably going to become worse

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719 Arrested Overnight

On Sunday, France's Interior Ministry said that at least 719 people were arrested overnight from Saturday to Sunday in France, being the fifth night of nationwide violence sparked by the killing of a teen by a police officer

According to Gerald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, Saturday night was "calmer" than Friday night when 1,311 people were arrested and 1,350 vehicles burnt.

Darmanin also stated that, on Saturday night, around 45,000 French security forces were deployed across the country to face rioting and looting, with around 7,000 in Paris and its suburbs, Darmanin said on his social media account.

Official reports state that 45 police officers and gendarmes were injured, while 577 vehicles and 74 buildings were burnt and 871 fires were set on public roads.

45,000 police and gendarmes and thousands of firefighters were mobilized to protect and guarantee republican order. Their resolute action under the coordination of the prefects made it possible to experience a calmer night.

On Saturday night, protesters attacked the house of the mayor of Hay-les-Roses, a city in southern Paris suburbs, and injured the mayor's wife and one of his children.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez stated on the French news channel BFMTV that the protesters "crossed a line" by attacking a mayor's home and that specialized police officers would carry out an investigation and do "everything, everything," to catch the perpetrators.

Nunez also assured that the police would remain "very concentrated and determined" in the face of urban violence.

Last Tuesday violence erupted on the outskirts of Paris and spread to other parts of France after the death of 17-year-old Nahel, shot at point-blank range by an officer at a roadblock that was recorded on video.

During a march organized by Nahel's mother, who carried a banner with the slogan "Police Kills," thousands of people chanted phrases such as "Killer Police" and demanded the resignation of Gerald Darmanin.

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Mostly the rioters are not innocent protesters but appear to be taking advantage of the unrest and looting shops

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Sanction Parents of Rioters

On Monday night, President Emmanuel Macron once again referred to protesters as criminals and stated that he wishes for their families to face financial sanctions

"On the first offense, we should be able to financially and easily penalize the families of delinquents," he said during a visit to the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC).

Without providing further details of this proposal, which was promoted and applauded by the French right, he explained that he wants to establish "some type" of minimum fee or fine for families from the first offense of their children.

The MEP Manon Aubry, however, criticized this form of sanction because it would mainly affect families in a situation of extreme poverty. The leftist La France Insoumise party also warned that the proposal would fail to appease social discontent.

"After threatening the parents, Macronism takes up the far-right words and animalizes the neighborhoods' inhabitants. Not a single word about police, racism, poverty, or public services. Its only project is 're-civilize the suburbs.' Where is the relief?," Aubry said.

Accompanied by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, Macron made his first exit from the Elysée since the wave of violence broke out in Paris, as a result of the murder of a 17-year-old boy at the hands of a police officer.

They went by surprise to a barracks in the 17th district, which houses several riot companies and other police units in Paris. Macron listened to the stories of some agents, thanked them for the effort made and highlighted his support.

Meanwhile, 45,000 police officers were deployed across the country, 7,000 of them in Paris, in an attempt by his administration to continue the process of de-escalating the riots. According to official information, some 557 people were arrested over the weekend.

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Riots might spread to Germany

The protests in France are stocking fears in Germany as the latter's authorities say they might spill over into the country

The violent protests that shook France over the murder of a teenager at the hands of the police at a traffic stop, sweeping across the country and even spilling over to neighboring countries such as Switzerland, are now stocking concerns in Germany amid fears of the protests spreading over to the country.

The Trade Union of the Police (GdP) and the Social Association of Germany (SoVD) revealed that they were seeing parallels in terms of the lead-up to the protests, namely in the social developments.

"Such riots are also conceivable in certain places in Germany, because the rejection of democracy, the state, and state authority is also increasing in Germany," said GdP federal chairman Jochen Kopelke of the Funke media group.

SoVD chief Michaela Engelmeier expressed a similar opinion in the media, highlighting that many people in Germany, just like in France, feel socially disadvantaged if not left behind. "Due to high price increases, it is enough for more and more people, it is just enough for the essentials."

It is therefore crucial that politicians take countermeasures, she added. "Because already today, not feeling represented is having an effect on disenchantment with politics amid a growing willingness to vote for extremist parties."

Both officials also underlined that the situation in Germany is not comparable with France as the country has been suffering under violent protests for days, namely since the death of Nahel M., a 17-year-old, at the hands of the police, which has so far led to looting, violent clashes with the police, and the arrest of thousands of people.

The cold-blooded murder of Nahel by French police officers in Nanterre has exposed deep division within French societies. The event sparked ablaze a fire that holds within it decades' worth of resentment felt by minorities in France toward authorities.

The protests have also angered the right in France, which criticized Macron's government for its inability to deal with the situation, leading to clashes between white French citizens and protesters in Paris.

Meanwhile, as protests intensify and expand, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that France is increasing its police force to 45,000 officers nationally in preparation for what is anticipated to be the fourth consecutive night of violent protests.

Tensions have been rising with protesters and police officers clashing in several areas.

An anonymous police source confirmed that nearly 6,200 people participated in the protests, during which signs like "Police kill," and "Our lives are in danger" were held up by protesters.

Concurrently, Macron called for an early morning crisis meeting of his ministers and urged calm. He branded the overnight clashes "unjustifiable" and told the meeting the "last few hours have been marked by scenes of violence against police stations, but also schools and town halls... against institutions and the Republic."

However, far-right leader Marine Le Pen claimed that the police officer involved was entitled to the "presumption of innocence."

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3,625 Arrested in France

In a report published on Wednesday, the French Interior Ministry informed on the burning of eight buildings and the arrest of 16 people, seven of whom were seized in Paris and its suburbs.

The authorities also acknowledged 202 fires on public roads involving objects such as garbage cans, 159 burned vehicles, and four attacks on national or municipal police stations.

On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, some 45,000 police officers were deployed to control the riots, while the international mainstream media is downplaying the events.

Due to a ruling by President Emmanuel Macron, social media providers have also suppressed references to the events in real time.

The tweet reads, "Women. Life. Freedom."

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that 3,625 people have been taken into police custody, including 1,124 minors, since the start of the riots. Among them, 990 citizens were brought to justice and 380 people remain in jail.

Although some local media maintain that the nightly violence began to subside since July 2, Macron remained "cautious" about the prospect of a return to calm in the country, although he said that the "peak" of violence had passed.

On Tuesday, the French president announced an 'emergency law' for reconstruction in towns affected by the riots. The current wave of urban violence was unleashed after the murder of a 17-year-old boy at the hands of a policeman whose racist attitudes were evidenced by videos. This is not the first time that the French police have been accused of racism.

In Dec. 2022, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed its deep concern about the frequent use of identity checks, discriminatory arrests, and the application of fixed purposes imposed by police, targeting "disproportionately" people of foreign origin in France.

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France bans annual march

After six nights of civil unrest, French authorities have deliberated to ban the seventh annual march commemorating the death of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old Black Frenchman who died in Police custody

According to his family, Adama died of asphyxiation after police officers pinned him down to the ground, similar to how George Floyd was killed by American cops back in 2020. Despite his family taking Adama's case to court, no charges were made.

The march commemorating the death of Adama scheduled for Saturday comes a week after the French police shot teenager Nahel Merzouk from point-blank on the outskirts of Paris.

The march was banned in a decree by the Val-d’Oise police prefect office, which cited trouble to public order as a pretext, justifying that there was a risk of "disruptive elements" ensuing.

The committee organizing the march, which they described as a “precious and necessary commemoration for all those who defend equality and want an end to police impunity”, said banning Saturday’s march could exacerbate public frustration against race-incentivized police brutality.

“It’s irresponsible of the government to ban these democratic and peaceful forms of expression,” Clémentine Autain, an MP for La France Insoumise said.

The French government seems to inch towards authoritarianism as it grapples with protests for Nahel's death. The Guardian reports that the French government believes that the recent unrest has been contained due to the tough legal action taken against the protestors.

After their cases were expedited before judges, several young protesters received severe prison sentences, as per the request of the justice minister for a “strong, firm and systematic” judicial response.

The killing of 17-year-old Nahel Marzouk at the hands of police in Hauts-de-Seine took place on June 27, which left France in unrest as overnight protests roamed the country.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron said enforcing social media blackouts and censoring posts should remain an option "when things get out of hand” in the country.

Macron accused the youth of using platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat to organize protests across France after a teenager was shot by police in a Paris suburb last week.

“We need to think about how young people use social networks … when things get out of hand, we may have to regulate them or cut them off," Macron stated.

Macron's remarks sparked wide criticism, including by heads of political parties, accusing him of violating the rights of citizens.

The French President asked social media companies last week to maintain a “sense of responsibility” and remove posts deemed sensitive by the government, especially those calling for or recording violent protests.

French ministers met with representatives of TikTok and Snapchat last Friday to try and push the platforms to prohibit content showing footage of the protests or supporting them.

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People Sentenced for Riots

On Wednesday, Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti reported that the French authorities handed down 1,278 sentences for the riots that occurred in late June and early July

Approximately 95 percent of those sentences were convictions, that is, 1,056 people were sentenced to prison. Among them are 742 citizens who must serve mandatory jail terms with an average duration of 8.2 months.

"It was extremely important that there be a firm and systematic response. It was imperative that we restore republican order," Dupond-Moretti said.

The authorities also imposed sentences for using social networks to organize riots because they wanted to "remember that Snapchat is not a hiding place."

The tweet reads, "The Unsubmissive France refuses to participate in the minute of applause requested by Valerie Pecresse in tribute to the security forces that stood firm in the face of the riots and to the victims of the sordid violence such as Vincent Jeanbrun and Stephanie Von Euw. The Republic is us!"

On June 27, a French Police officer murdered a 17-year-old teenager who was driving a car without a permit in the city of Nanterre. This event unleashed a wave of strong protests and riots throughout the country

From that day to July 5, over 2,500 buildings were set on fire or damaged, hundreds of businesses were looted, and some 12,000 vehicles were vandalized. According to the Interior Minister, security forces detained 4,000 people, a third of whom were minors.

So far, 742 people have been firmly sentenced to prison and 600 citizens are already incarcerated.

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