UN committee criticizes mass arrests of protesters in France

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERDا) condemned reports of mass arrests of participants in recent protests in France and demanded a ban on racist actions by law enforcement agencies. This committee, composed of 18 independent experts, expressed concern on Friday, July 8, in response to the killing of Algerian teenager Nahel Merzouk in France by the police and the ensuing protests over racist behavior and excessive use of force by law enforcement.

The cold-blooded killing by French police of 17-year-old Nahel and lodges in relation to the incident, which was interpreted as the "Americanization of the French police", was another tragedy recorded in the case of the angry gendarmes of this country and turned the fire of the anger of citizens into a thirst for revenge.These experts also condemned the looting and destruction of public and private property, as well as reports of widespread arrests and mass detentions of protesters in France.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced Thursday during a Senate hearing that French police and gendarmerie have arrested 4,000 people during recent unrest in the country to protest Nahel's killing.This UN committee welcomed the investigation into the circumstances leading to the killing of this man in France by the police and added: France must ensure that the investigation into the circumstances leading to Naheel's death is comprehensive and impartial and that those responsible are brought to justice. The Court is inclusive and impartial, prosecuting the perpetrators and punishing them if they are found guilty.

The UN committee also called on France to pass a law defining and banning racial prejudice. The Committee reiterated its recommendation that the structural and systemic causes of racial discrimination, including in law enforcement, be given priority attention.The reaction of the UN committee came after a French administrative court ruled against the organizers of a march in memory of a new victim of the French police, organized by the Adama Traore Foundation.

They tried to challenge the ban on the march scheduled for Saturday. Traore, a black citizen, died while in French police custody, leading to several nightly violent protests in 2016.This UN committee, which oversees the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, under the Early Warning and Immediate Action procedure for the Nahel case, expressed and announced concerns about continued racist behavior along with excessive use of force by law enforcement .In particular, the police are deeply concerned about members of minority groups, especially those of African and Arab origin.