Iran issues advisory against France travel, urges French police to exercise restraint

Iran's Foreign Ministry has issued a travel advisory for Iranian nationals to avoid “unnecessary trips” to France amid persisting protests against police brutality across the European country over the police killing of a teenager.

Nasser Kana'ani, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, made the remark in the early hours of Sunday as he called on the French police to exercise restraint in handling the nationwide protests sparked by the murder of 17-year-old Nahel M. on June 27 in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre.

“Just like in the past, we advise the French government and police to heed the demands of the protesters while exercising restraint and avoiding violence,” Kana'ani said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that certain European countries' "discriminatory treatment" of migrants and their refusal to accept and rectify their wrong behaviors migrants have caused unfavorable conditions for European citizens, including in France.

“The French government is expected to put an end to the violent treatment of its people by respecting the principles of human dignity, freedom of expression and the right of citizens to peaceful protests,” Kana'ani added.

Underlining that the Islamic Republic is closely monitoring the ongoing developments in France, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “Due to the insecure and unpredictable situation in France, we urge our fellow Iranian compatriots living in this country to avoid unnecessary commuting in the city and going to conflict areas.”

Kana'ani also called on Iranian nationals to refrain from making unnecessary trips to France in the current chaotic situation.

Macron ditches EU summit to rush home amid growing unrest for police killing of teen

France

France has been rocked by a wave of protests after Nahel M., a 17-year-old of Algerian descent, was shot at point-blank range in Nanterre earlier in the week over refusing to stop for a traffic check and died after emergency services arrived at the scene. A video, shared online, showed two police officers trying to stop the vehicle and one pointing his weapon at the driver.

The police officer responsible for the shooting has been detained and is facing charges of voluntary homicide.

France has deployed thousands of police officers nationwide, backed by light armored vehicles, to quell the nationwide protests as public display of anger is on in the major cities of Lyon, Marseille and Grenoble with bands of youth setting fires and pelting officers with projectiles.

At a march in Nanterre in memory of Nahel, participants demonstrated against what they lambasted as a culture of police impunity and a failure to reform law enforcement in a country that has experienced waves of rioting and protests over police conduct.

The violent disturbances have revived memories of protests in 2005 that broke out across France for three weeks, and forced then President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency.

Tuesday's killing was the third fatal shooting during traffic stops in France so far in 2023, down from a record 13 last year, according to a spokesperson for the national police.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir