Fanatical Muslims wreak violence throughout France over the death of Arab-origin youth

France violence (Credit : ANI)

Paris (France) – Violence has been perpetrated across France by fanatical Muslims in protest against the killing of a teenager named Nael M by Police in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. After this incident on 27^th June, many incidents of arson and stone pelting took place in various parts of France.

Attempts were made to burn down many Police stations in Paris using firecrackers. Schools, buses and several four-wheelers were set ablaze. In videos circulating on social media, the arsonists are seen chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’. Incidents of shop looting are also taking place. Protesters are attacking the Police and security forces. Stones were hurled between Police and protesters in the southern French city of Toulouse.

(Credit : WION)

According to BBC, 150 people have been arrested so far across France (as on 27^th June). French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has described the violence as a ‘night of unbearable violence’. Many prominent French citizens have also condemned the Police, with President Emmanuel Macron saying ‘this killing is unacceptable and inexcusable. This shooting is unjustifiable !’ The Police were also angered by Macron’s statement and said it was wrong to directly criminalise the Police. Last year, 13 civilians were killed in Police operations against traffic violations.

(Credit : Time)

The incident is being investigated from both sides. It will also be investigated whether the Police fired in self-defence as the youth was trying to harm the Police, or whether the youth was unnecessarily fired upon.

Videos on social media showed numerous fires across the country, including at a bus depot in a suburb north of Paris and a tram in the eastern city of Lyon. In Marseille, France’s second city, Police fired tear gas grenades during clashes with the youth in the tourist hot-spot of Le Vieux Port.

The incident has fed longstanding complaints of Police violence and systemic racism inside law enforcement agencies from rights groups and within the low-income, racially mixed suburbs around major cities in France.

The unrest has revived memories of riots in 2005 that convulsed France for three weeks and forced then-President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency.

Background

On the evening of 27^th June, 17-year-old Nael M. from North African i.e., Arab origin, was driving his four-wheeler in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. As he refused to obey the traffic rules, the Police shot him from close range. The bullet entered his chest and he died shortly after. While justifying this, Police said that they took this action because Nael tried to run them over. In fact, the video of this incident has come out and it is being said that the Police are lying. This has angered people more.

Editorial Viewpoints

• There is nothing surprising in this kind of violence after the killing of a Muslim youth in France, a country which has the largest Muslim population in Europe.

• Killing of a youth by the Police is condemnable, but this does not mean that the entire country should be held hostage. Therefore, strict action should also be taken against the Muslims who indulged in violence.