The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan has commented on the mass protests and cases of human rights violations in France, the Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis told APA.
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan expresses its deep concern over the mass protests and riots that took place in France in September–October 2026, police violence against children and peaceful demonstrators, cases of serious injuries, mass arrests, and serious problems in ensuring public safety, and states the following:
"The protests in France, which began amid dissatisfaction with the state of the education system, rising living costs, and social problems, spread to various cities across the country on October 17, covering a wider geographical area. According to official data, 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations that day. The riots, fires, and looting that occurred in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities demonstrate the serious difficulties faced by Emmanuel Macron's regime in maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of citizens;
Particularly outrageous are reports of minors being subjected to police violence. Reports of the use of batons, tear gas, rubber bullet guns, and explosive special equipment against schoolchildren, as well as children being subjected to physical violence, raise serious concerns. It is particularly shocking that a 15-year-old teenager lost a hand in Lens and a 17-year-old girl lost sight in one eye in Mulhouse as a result of police violence. Protecting the lives and health of children is a direct obligation of the state, and the need to maintain public order can under no circumstances justify the disproportionate use of force against them. These acts of violence must be investigated independently and transparently;
The arrest of thousands of people, including minors, during mass protests, restrictions on the movement of peaceful demonstrators, and bans on gatherings in certain cities raise serious concerns regarding respect for freedom of peaceful assembly and the principle of proportionality. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in connection with the events of October 17 alone. Ensuring citizens' right to peaceful protest stems from the international obligations of the French state, and restricting this right is unacceptable;
Serious problems also exist in ensuring public safety and fundamental rights in France's overseas territories. Following the riots, fires, and attacks on commercial establishments that occurred in Guadeloupe on the night of October 17–18, curfews were imposed in several areas. In New Caledonia, France's National Consultative Commission on Human Rights stated in January 2026 that the fundamental rights of the Kanak population had deteriorated, discrimination had deepened, and numerous reports had emerged in recent years of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies. These cases demonstrate the serious problems faced by the dictatorship of the Macron regime in ensuring the rights and safety of people living in overseas territories, particularly representatives of indigenous peoples;
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan believes that the events taking place in France are not limited to isolated disturbances of public order, but are an indication of the government's deep political and governance crisis and the failure of its policies in responding to social discontent and ensuring the safety of citizens. The Macron regime has failed, on the one hand, to protect peaceful demonstrators, including children, from disproportionate police intervention and, on the other hand, to protect citizens and their property from violence during the riots. The issue of political responsibility for the events that have occurred cannot be overlooked. It is clearly evident that the French state, the dictatorship of the Macron regime, and those who seek to lecture the world on human rights, democracy, and values are experiencing a deep political and governance crisis;
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on France to prevent the disproportionate use of force against children and peaceful demonstrators, thoroughly investigate incidents resulting in serious injuries, ensure that those responsible are held accountable before the law, protect the rights of detainees, particularly minors, and respect citizens' freedom of peaceful assembly;
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan strongly condemns the disregard for the disgraceful events unfolding in France by institutions, particularly the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which have been plagued by corruption and moral bankruptcy, as well as the selective approach and double standards regarding human rights;
There are serious doubts that cases of police violence in France will be investigated objectively, impartially, and fairly by the country's national investigative and judicial authorities. In this regard, we call on international organizations, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, to establish an independent international commission of inquiry to comprehensively investigate cases of the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, including minors, and human rights violations;
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan also calls on the French Parliament, international parliamentary organizations, and human rights institutions to take a principled stance on the events that have occurred, support an independent international investigation, and demand that the Macron regime comply with its international human rights obligations."
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