On Tuesday morning, a 17-year-old Algerian Muslim named Nahel was driving a car with a Polish license plate in a bus lane in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. The police attempted to stop him, but he refused to comply. Considering him a potential threat, the police shot him, and unfortunately, Nahel died at the scene. A video capturing the shooting went viral, which triggered riots across France, predominantly involving Muslims.
The initial protests sought justice for Nahel but quickly turned violent. Despite French President Macron assuring a proper investigation, the protests have persisted. The demonstrators are chanting "Allah hu akbar" and resorting to destructive acts such as burning shops, cars, looting, and damaging public property.
France has the highest Muslim population in Europe, accounting for 9% of its total population. Many of them are African immigrants who sought refuge in France. The riots have divided public opinion into two sides. Some individuals justify the violence, attributing it to long-standing racism issues within the country. Conversely, others claim that Muslims are simply using any excuse to engage in violence.
Similar violent incidents occurred in France last year after France defeated the predominantly Muslim country, Morocco, in a World Cup soccer match. These previous events, along with the shooting video, are considered significant triggers for the current riots.
The riots have spread throughout France and there are concerns they may extend to other countries as well. There have been reports suggesting that France might declare a state of emergency or martial law if the riots are not brought under control.
It is important to remember that this article aims to provide an overview of the situation and does not endorse or promote violence or discrimination in any form.