France Student Protests Spark Calls to Ban Rubber Bullets

France is under increased scrutiny for police methods following a spate of injuries during student protests, including some involving teens who were seriously injured. The incidents have put additional pressure on authorities to reconsider the usage of rubber bullets, tear gas launchers, and stun grenades during rallies.

One of the most recent examples was Eden, a 14-year-old kid who sustained a broken jaw and many damaged teeth during a protest in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumone last week. His family has filed a complaint accusing a police officer of attempted murder, according to Elsa Marcel, their lawyer.

The case is one of 24 investigated by France’s internal police watchdog, the IGPN, in connection with more than two weeks of student protests against school conditions. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described the protests as the most violent in decades.

France Student Protests Put Police Tactics Under Review

Eden’s lawyer stated that the incident occurred while he was seated on a wall and looked at his phone, several meters from the protest. According to the local prosecutor, an officer approached the adolescent and struck him with a baton following an encounter in which Eden kicked back.

A second cop shot a tear gas grenade from a Cougar launcher, injuring the youngster in the face. Marcel claimed that the officer left him on the ground without contacting emergency services.

The officer told investigators a different account of the confrontation, claiming that he acted to protect himself and his comrades. On Tuesday, eight days after the event, he was placed under formal inquiry for assault by a public authority resulting in lifelong impairment or disfigurement.

Eden’s story is part of a larger string of injuries related to protests. A examination of interviews and legal papers revealed 28 cases using police force, with 15 being investigated by the IGPN. The incidents included rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, batons and mounted police charges.

Another case involves a 16-year-old student in Argenteuil who was shot while going home after learning that his school had closed. His lawyer, Sophia Kerbaa, stated that his left eye was hurt and could be permanently damaged. It’s unknown what struck him.

Authorities have reportedly reported injuries to police personnel. The authorities reported that over 200 students and 700 police officers were injured. Officials said that schools had been vandalised or looted, and teachers and members of the public had been targeted. Police detained 6,877 persons, the majority of them were minors.

France Student Protests Fuel Calls to Ban Rubber Bullets

The injuries have led to calls to ban the use of “less lethal” weapons, including rubber bullets and shock grenades. Human rights organisations, including as Amnesty International, and certain politicians have advocated for a permanent prohibition.

Sebastian Roche, a policing researcher at France’s National Center for Scientific Research, claimed the country was unique in Europe in its usage of these weapons. He cited four irreversible injuries involving minors in the span of 12 days, citing the total as unprecedented in recent French history.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that a 15-year-old student in Lens had lost a hand, most likely due to a stun grenade. He paused the use of stun grenades while the case was being probed.

Mayor Bally Bagayoko of the left-wing France Unbowed party has urged for the withdrawal of rubber bullets, stating that fewer injuries would help to reduce tensions. He took part in protests in Saint-Denis to show his support for the youth.

Police representatives, on the other hand, say that officers must intermediate force alternatives when confrontations get violent. Thierry Clair, a police union official, stated that while catastrophic injuries are unfortunate, they do not warrant abandoning established policing practices. He cautioned that removing such measures would leave officers with less options before resorting to fatal force.

The discussion continues as investigators look into individual cases and pressure mounts for a rethink of how police handle youth demonstrations.