Paris slams UN remarks on racial profiling as 'unfounded, excessive'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jul 2023 13:19

The foreign ministry said that any ethnic profiling by law enforcement is banned in France.

Riot police stand near a burning car in the La Meineau neighborhood of Strasbourg, June 30, 2023 (AP)

The French Foreign Ministry on Saturday said in a statement that the remarks that were issued by a UN committee -- condemning acts of racial profiling and excessive use of force by law enforcers on protesters during the widespread rioting in the country -- are "excessive" and "unfounded."

"Any ethnic profiling by law enforcement is banned in France," the foreign ministry said, noting that "the struggle against excesses in racial profiling has intensified".

Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan origin was shot in the chest at point-blank range on June 27 in the western region of Paris after he was pulled over for breaking traffic rules in a yellow Mercedes.

Observers say that the events have uncovered severe racial tensions in France as protestors accuse authorities of targeting minorities.

On June 30, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the French government to "seriously address the deep problems of racism and discrimination in law enforcement" after Nahel was killed.

Earlier today, The Guardian reported that French authorities have deliberated to ban the seventh annual march commemorating the death of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old Black Frenchman who died in Police custody.

According to his family, Adama died of asphyxiation after police officers pinned him down to the ground, similar to how George Floyd was killed by American cops back in 2020. Despite his family taking Adama's case to court, no charges were made.

The march was banned in a decree by the Val-d’Oise police prefect office, which cited trouble to public order as a pretext, justifying that there was a risk of "disruptive elements" ensuing.

On Monday, data from fundraising websites showed that over 1 million euros ($1.09 million) were raised to support the family of the police officer who shot Nahel, while donations for the deceased's mother reached a mere 192,999 euros.