Milli Majlis Comments on Mass Protests and Human Rights Violations in France

The Milli Majlis has issued a statement regarding mass protests and human rights violations taking place in France.

Operativ Media reports that the Milli Majlis expressed deep concern over the mass protests and riots in France during September and October 2026, police violence against children and peaceful demonstrators, instances of severe injury, mass arrests, and serious breakdown in public safety, stating the following:

Protests sparked by dissatisfaction with the French education system, the rising cost of living, and broader social grievances expanded geographically on October 17, spreading to various cities across the country. According to official figures, 550,000 people took part in demonstrations that day. Rioting, fires, and looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities demonstrate the severe difficulties faced by the Emmanuel Macron regime in maintaining public order and protecting citizens' safety;

Reports of police violence against minors are particularly alarming. Accounts of police using batons, tear gas, rubber bullet launchers, and explosive crowd-control devices against schoolchildren, as well as physical violence against minors, raise grave concern. Most shockingly, a 15-year-old in Lens lost a hand and a 17-year-old girl in Mulhouse lost vision in one eye as a result of police violence. Safeguarding the lives and health of children is a direct obligation of the state, and the necessity of maintaining public order can in no way justify the use of disproportionate 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 several cities raise serious concerns regarding freedom of assembly and adherence to the principle of proportionality. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in connection with the events of October 17 alone. Guaranteeing citizens' right to peaceful protest stems from France's international obligations, and restricting this right is unacceptable;

Serious issues regarding public safety and fundamental rights also persist in France's overseas territories. In Guadeloupe, curfews were imposed in several locations following riots, fires, and attacks on commercial establishments on the night of October 17–18. In New Caledonia, France's National Consultative Commission on Human Rights reported in January 2026 that conditions for the Kanak population's fundamental rights had deteriorated, discrimination had deepened, and numerous reports of excessive force by law enforcement had emerged in recent years. These instances illustrate the severe problems faced by the Macron regime's dictatorship in safeguarding the rights and security of people living in overseas territories, particularly indigenous populations;

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan believes that the events in France are not isolated disruptions of public order, but rather an indicator of a deep political and governance crisis, as well as the failure of the government's policies to respond to social discontent and ensure citizen safety. The Macron regime has failed on both fronts—to protect peaceful demonstrators, including children, from disproportionate police intervention, and to protect citizens and their property from violence during riots. Political accountability for these events cannot be ignored. It is increasingly obvious that the French state and the Macron regime dictatorship—which frequently attempts to lecture the world on human rights, democracy, and values—are undergoing a profound political and governance crisis;

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on France to prevent the use of disproportionate force against children and peaceful demonstrators, to thoroughly investigate incidents resulting in severe injuries, to ensure those responsible face justice, to protect the rights of detainees—especially minors—and to respect citizens' freedom of peaceful assembly;

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan strongly condemns the selective approach and double standards of corrupt and morally bankrupt institutions, particularly the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which turn a blind eye to the abuses rampant in France;

There are serious doubts that the instances of police violence in France will be investigated objectively, impartially, and fairly by the country's national investigative and judicial bodies. In this regard, we call on international organizations, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, to establish an independent international commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate cases of rights violations and the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, including minors;

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 these events, support an independent international inquiry, and demand that the Macron regime comply with its international human rights obligations.