UN Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on France to “address deep” issues of racism and for the country to reckon with its history of racism in policing.
The UN right office made the call following a third night of riots and protest across France over the police shooting of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent, Nahel M.
OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, in a statement in Geneva on Friday, expressed concern over the death of 17-year-old Nahel on Tuesday.
Nahel died on Tuesday after he was shot dead driving away from a traffic stop in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre.
According to news reports, at least 875 people were arrested in major cities around the country on Thursday night, after around 40,000 police officers were deployed to quell protests and rioting over the killing.
President Emmanuel Macron has urged parents to keep their children off the streets, while in Paris, shots have been ransacked and cars set alight, despite the heavy police presence.
The officer who shot the youth has reportedly apologised to the family and has been officially charged with voluntary homicide.
Shamdasani noted that an investigation has been launched into the alleged voluntary homicide.
“This is a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement,” she said.
“We also emphasise the importance of peaceful assembly.
“We call on the authorities to ensure use of force by police to address violent elements in demonstrations always respects the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution and accountability,’ the spokesperson said.
She called for any allegations of disproportionate use of force by people exercising their rights to protest, to be swiftly investigated.
According to latest figures released by France’s police regulator, there were 37 deaths during police operations recorded in 2021, of whom 10 were shot dead. (NAN)
