Iran's rights council urges global bodies to apply equal scrutiny to French police crackdown
Tehran - BORNA - In a statement released recently, the council emphasized that respecting human rights is a "shared and universal commitment" that must not be compromised by political, allied, or geopolitical considerations.
The statement underscored the necessity for the French government to fully comply with international human rights obligations in its handling of the youth and student assemblies across the European country.
The Iranian rights body drew a parallel with recent geopolitical events, criticizing certain European countries, including France, for their lackluster response to the recent military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran's territorial integrity.
"Taking a stance on the rights of nations and the rule of law will only have the necessary credibility and effectiveness when these principles are applied equally in all circumstances, without political and geographical considerations," the statement read.
Citing multiple reports of severe injuries and widespread arrests during the French protests, the council highlighted specific alarming cases, including a 14-year-old severely injured in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône, a 16-year-old who lost an eye in Tours, and a 15-year-old whose hand was amputated in Lens.
While acknowledging that official investigations by French authorities—including the General Inspectorate of the National Police—are ongoing, the Iranian council stressed that the severity of these injuries demands "thorough, independent, and transparent" reviews.
The statement reminded Paris of its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It reiterated the fundamental rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and protection against arbitrary detention, as well as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
"Even in situations where some participants in a gathering commit violent acts or disrupt public order, the response of law enforcement must be directed at the specific illegal behavior, avoiding unnecessary or disproportionate force," the council noted.
The statement also referenced similar concerns recently raised by the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) and Amnesty International regarding the legality, necessity, and proportionality of the force deployed by French police.
The High Council for Human Rights concluded by urging the French government to guarantee the rights of detainees, particularly minors, emphasizing that applying double standards in human rights evaluations severely undermines public trust in international mechanisms.
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