Amnesty International raises alarm over police violence against French students amid protests for better conditions

 

Amnesty International France has voiced alarm over the use of police violence against French high school students during protests over better learning conditions that have been underway for several days.

"The images of high school students being subjected to violence by law enforcement are extremely concerning. Many of them are minors, children. They must be protected, not beaten with batons," Amnesty wrote on US social media platform X on Thursday.

The group also voiced concern over the high number of arrests while acknowledging that there had been violence by some protesters as well, which it described as "unacceptable."

 The mobilization of French students demanding better learning conditions, which has been ongoing for days, continued on Friday as protests turned increasingly violent in some regions of the country, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

Tensions particularly rose in Strasbourg where the protests outside a high school advanced toward a campus of the University of Strasbourg after protesters were pushed back by law enforcement.

During the protest, numerous mortar fireworks were reportedly heard while gasoline was used to start a fire.

Clashes were also reported between the crowds and police close to campus with security forces dispersing protesters with tear gas after mortar fireworks were thrown.

Around a dozen rioters dressed in black were reportedly present, while high school and university students were also among the crowd.

In Paris, firefighters intervened at fires ignited at the entrances of two schools.