Iranian FM Slams French Police Brutality Against Protesters

In a French-language post on his Twitter account on Friday, Amir Abdollahian strongly condemned the brutal clampdown on the peaceful demonstrations of the French people.

“We call on the French government to respect human rights and avoid resorting to force against the people of its own country who are pursuing their demands peacefully,” the top diplomat tweeted.

French authorities struggled on Thursday to suppress the protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform. Unions claimed 3.5 million people turned out across the country, while the authorities suggested the figure was much lower, at just under 1.1 million.

According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, a total of 457 people were arrested and 441 security forces injured.

Tens of thousands of workers went on strike and demonstrators blocked public transportation, schools and oil refineries. Attempting to break up the protests, police used tear gas, water cannons, flash-bangs and batons. Videos and photos making rounds on social media showed heavily armored officers clubbing unarmed demonstrators.

The French government has also survived two parliamentary no-confidence votes over President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to push through a controversial pension reform bill without lawmakers’ approval.

Iran blasts the blatant violations of human rights in the US and Europe, stressing for the US, human rights is merely a tool for exerting political pressure on independent states to advance their foreign policy objectives. Officials in Tehran call on the international community to hold the US accountable for its crimes. They mocked the US claim over supporting Iranian women and girls amid harsh sanctions which have disrupted the ordinary lives of the people.

Tehran has also denounces the disturbing human rights situation in the European countries, and note the West does not have the authority to be the flag-bearer in this field.

Iranian officials have numerously urged the international organizations to condemn police brutality against women in the United States and European states, instead of expressing concern over human rights in other countries.