Baku:Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has expressed deep concern over the recent mass protests and human rights violations reported in France. The unrest, which occurred in September and October 2026, included incidents of police violence against children and peaceful demonstrators, resulting in serious injuries, mass detentions, and public security issues.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the protests in France were triggered by dissatisfaction with the education system, rising living costs, and social issues, spreading to various cities by October 17. Official data indicates that approximately 550,000 people participated in these demonstrations. The protests and subsequent unrest, including fires and looting in cities such as Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, highlight the challenges faced by Emmanuel Macron’s administration in maintaining public order and ensuring citizen safety.
The Milli Majlis specifically condemned reports of minors facing police violence, including the use of batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and explosive devices, which have led to severe injuries, such as a 15-year-old losing an arm in Lens and a 17-year-old girl losing vision in one eye in Mulhouse. The Azerbaijani parliament emphasized that protecting children’s lives and health is paramount and that disproportionate force cannot be justified under any circumstances. They called for an independent and transparent investigation into these acts of violence.
The Azerbaijani parliament also raised concerns about the detention of thousands, including minors, and the restriction of movement and prohibition of assemblies during the protests. Approximately 2,400 people were detained on October 17 alone. The Milli Majlis stressed the importance of respecting the right to peaceful assembly, a commitment France is obliged to uphold.
In France’s overseas territories, similar challenges were noted, such as a curfew following unrest in Guadeloupe and concerns over human rights violations in New Caledonia. The Milli Majlis viewed these issues as indicative of a deeper political and governance crisis within the French government.
The Milli Majlis urged France to cease using disproportionate force, conduct thorough investigations, ensure justice for those injured, protect detainees’ rights, and uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful protest. They criticized institutions like the European Parliament for ignoring these issues and called for international intervention, including from the UN Human Rights Council, to investigate the incidents independently.
Finally, the Azerbaijani parliament called on the French Parliament and international bodies to adopt a strong stance on these events and demand accountability from the Macron regime, emphasizing the need for compliance with international human rights commitments.