Why is Paris on the boil?
2 min read 03 Jul 2023, 11:37 PM ISTThe killing of 17-year-old Nahel Marzouk, a French citizen of North African descent, by police has triggered massive protests in France. Thousands have been arrested as the country grapples with pressing questions of race and policing
PremiumThe killing of 17-year-old Nahel Marzouk, a French citizen of North African descent, by police has triggered massive protests in France. Thousands have been arrested as the country grapples with pressing questions of race and policing. Mint explains the crisis in France:
What triggered this crisis?
The immediate trigger was the 27 June-shooting of Marzouk, of Algerian and Moroccan descent. He was shot and killed at a traffic stop by policemen. The officers involved in the incident initially claimed that they shot Nahel in self-defence as he tried to plough his car into them. However, a video of the incident revealed that the officers shot him as he tried to pull away from them after being stopped for a traffic offence. This triggered widespread protests as thousands took to the streets to condemn police brutality. Protests began the day Nahel was killed, and have continued unabated since then.
How serious are the protests?
Over 3,000 people have been arrested since the protests began on Tuesday. Hundreds of police officers have also been injured. Major cities like Paris, Marseilles and Lyons, among others, have seen unrest. Protestors chanting “justice for Nahel" have also come out onto the streets in Belgium and Switzerland. Protestors have torched buildings and vehicles, forcing the government to deploy thousands more police in a bid to contain the demonstrations. Some protestors attacked the home of the mayor of a Paris suburb and set it on fire. The official’s wife and children managed to escape but sustained injuries.
How has the government reacted?
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the killing of Nahel as “inexcusable". The officer responsible was placed under investigation. However, the government has also strenuously denied claims of a culture of police violence against minorities. It has also strongly condemned the protests, with Macron blaming social media for fanning the flames.
What are the underlying reasons?
Nahel’s killing has pushed questions of race and identity to the fore in French politics. While France takes great pride in a political culture that stresses equality, some minority groups have complained for years that they face systemic discrimination. Nahel’s killing has struck a chord with a number of young people from poor, minority communities who feel frustrated by a lack of economic opportunities. They also allege that their minority status makes them far more likely to become targets of police brutality.
What happens now in France?
The violence, while still widespread, has declined in intensity. Macron chaired a high-level security meeting after riots erupted for the fifth night on Saturday and is set to meet the mayors of 220 riot-hit towns. On Sunday, the interior ministry reported that 78 people had been arrested. This was down significantly from the 712 protestors arrested on Saturday night. Nahel’s family has also made appeals to protestors to end the rioting. This may mark the return of an uneasy normalcy in France.
