Unrest in French Suburbs: Teen’s Death Ignites Outrage and Police Reform Demands

A 17-year-old’s tragic death near Paris has sparked widespread chaos in French suburbs, with protestors resorting to burning cars, buildings, and garbage in their anger.

This incident has also reignited concerns about France’s progress since the urban riots of 2005.

The fatal shooting of Nahel, captured on video, has sent shockwaves throughout the country. It has brought long-standing tensions between law enforcement and disadvantaged youth in marginalized neighborhoods to the forefront, triggering calls for a comprehensive reassessment of police weapon regulations.

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INCREASE IN SHOOTINGS

Instances where individuals have been killed by police after refusing to comply with orders have been on the rise. In 2021 alone, police data indicates that four such incidents occurred.

CRITIQUING THE LAW

In the aftermath of Nahel’s death, Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of France’s lower house of parliament, expressed readiness to reevaluate the implementation of the law governing police firearm use.

This law was enacted in 2017 following a series of extremist attacks in France. It grants law enforcement officers the authority to open fire on a vehicle if the driver fails to comply with an order and poses a threat to their lives or the lives of others.

The officer responsible for firing the fatal shot in Nahel’s case will face investigation for voluntary homicide, as the initial inquiry concluded that the “legal conditions for weapon use were not met.”

Prior to this law, police officers had to establish self-defense as a justification for firearm use. Since its implementation, they have been permitted to shoot at a vehicle “whose occupants are likely to perpetrate, in their flight, attacks on their life or physical integrity or that of others.”

However, the internal security code stipulates that the use of weapons should be authorized only in cases of “absolute necessity” and in a “strictly proportionate manner.”

Researchers Sebastian Roché, Paul le Derff, and Simon Varaine, who have conducted statistical analyses linking the increase in fatal police shootings to the law, have also questioned the adequacy of police training.

Roché told Le Nouvel Obs media, “There is a clear correlation between the 2017 law change and the rise in fatal police shootings. On average, there has been a 25% increase in shootings and a fivefold increase in lethal shootings. Since 2017, there has been a noticeable shift in police practices towards more frequent use of firearms.”

A NATIONWIDE CONCERN

In addition to the deadly shootings, French police have faced consistent criticism for their aggressive tactics.

During the yellow vest protests of 2018, a prominent European official condemned French authorities for their handling of the prolonged anti-government demonstrations, urging them to exhibit greater respect for human rights.

French police also faced severe scrutiny for their handling of the 2022 Champions League final held at the Stade de France, located in the Saint-Denis suburb. Tear gas was deployed on fans who endured long waits in congested lines, leading to a delay of approximately 40 minutes.

More recently, during demonstrations against the proposed increase in the retirement age, French police faced accusations of excessive force. Organizations such as Amnesty International, the International Federation of Human Rights, and the Council of Europe have criticized the use of force by French police.

PRIOR UNREST

The current unrest in French suburbs following Nahel’s death is not without precedent.

In 2005, the electrocutions of Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traore, 15, as they sought refuge from the police in a power substation in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, sparked three weeks of riots across France.

These nationwide riots swept through housing projects in troubled neighborhoods with significant minority populations. Although the initial trigger was the deaths of the two teenagers, the underlying causes were rooted in issues of discrimination, unemployment, and a sense of alienation from French society.

WHAT LIES AHEAD?

Nearly two decades later, these problems and the sentiment of injustice continue to be deeply entrenched in French society. However, the response to the riots may differ this time.

Unlike in 2005, the availability of video evidence and the rapid spread of information through social media have accelerated the outrage. French President Emmanuel Macron has been careful not to exacerbate tensions and has refrained from taking actions that might lead to a violent outburst, in contrast to the French government’s heavy-handed response during the previous riots under a state-of-emergency law.

Macron initially described Nahel’s death as “inexcusable.” The video evidence made it difficult for him and his ministers to argue that the shooting was justified. During the initial two nights of riots, police officers exhibited restraint in their use of force. Additionally, the decision to charge the main suspect with voluntary homicide and keep him in custody may contribute to calming tensions.

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