The National Assembly has commented on the mass protests and human rights violations in France.
This was reported to elchi by the Press and Public Relations Department of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly expresses its deep concern regarding the mass protests and riots that occurred in France in September-October 2026, police brutality against children and peaceful protesters, severe injuries, mass arrests, and serious problems in ensuring public safety, and states the following:
“The protests, which began due to dissatisfaction with the state of the education system in France, rising living costs, and social problems, spread to various cities of the country on October 17, covering a wider geography. According to official data, 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations that day. The riots, fires, and looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities demonstrate the serious difficulties faced by the Emmanuel Macron regime in protecting public order and citizen safety;
Particularly disturbing are the reports of minors being subjected to police brutality. The use of batons, tear gas, rubber bullet guns, and explosive special means against schoolchildren, and information about children being subjected to physical violence cause serious concern. The loss of an arm by a 15-year-old teenager in Lens and the loss of sight in one eye by a 17-year-old girl in Mulhouse as a result of police brutality are particularly devastating. Protecting the lives and health of children is a direct obligation of the state, and the necessity of ensuring public order cannot in any way 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, the restriction of movement for peaceful protesters, and the prohibition of gatherings in certain cities raise serious concerns regarding freedom of assembly and adherence to the principle of proportionality. Approximately 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 the Overseas Territories of France. Following the riots, fires, and attacks on commercial facilities on the night of October 17-18 in Guadeloupe, a curfew was imposed in several places. In New Caledonia, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights of France reported in January 2026 that the fundamental rights of the Kanak population had deteriorated, discrimination had deepened, and there were numerous reports of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies in recent years. These situations demonstrate the serious problems faced by the Macron regime’s dictatorship in ensuring the rights and safety of people living in the Overseas Territories, especially representatives of indigenous peoples;
The National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan considers that the events in France are not limited to random violations of public order, but are an indicator of the government’s deep political and administrative crisis, and the failure of its policy in responding to social discontent and ensuring citizen safety. The Macron regime has failed to protect peaceful protesters, including children, from disproportionate police intervention on the one hand, and citizens and their property from violence during riots on the other. The issue of political responsibility for the events cannot be overlooked. It is evident that the French state, the Macron regime’s dictatorship, which tries to lecture the world on human rights, democracy, and values, is experiencing a deep political and administrative crisis;
The National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on France to prevent the disproportionate use of force against children and peaceful protesters, to thoroughly investigate the incidents that resulted in severe injuries, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law, to protect the rights of those arrested, especially minors, and to respect the freedom of peaceful assembly of citizens;
The National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan strongly condemns the fact that corrupt and morally bankrupt institutions, particularly the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, are ignoring the disgraceful events unfolding in France, as well as the selective approach and double standards on human rights issues;
Serious doubts arise about the objective, impartial, and fair investigation of police brutality incidents in France by the country’s national investigation and judicial bodies. In this regard, we call on international organizations, especially the UN Human Rights Council, to establish an independent international commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the use of force against peaceful protesters, including minors, and human rights violations;
The National Assembly 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, to support an independent international investigation, and to demand that the Macron regime comply with its international obligations in the field of human rights.”