Erdogan blames the unrest in France on institutional racism

Iran has advised its citizens not to travel to France, where violent riots have been raging in major cities for days.

Tehran also called on the French government and police to exercise restraint, refrain from violence and pay attention to the protesters’ demands.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Sunday advised Iranian citizens to avoid “unnecessary travel” amid ongoing unrest in France following the shooting death of a teenage boy by police.

“We advise the French government and police to comply with the demands of the protesters, showing restraint and avoiding violence.

“The French government is expected to respect principles based on human dignity, freedom of speech and the right of citizens to peaceful protests, and stop the violent treatment of its people,” the spokesman added.

France is witnessing widespread unrest after a French police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Nael during a traffic stop.

Tehran has previously criticized France for the protests that broke out in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was arrested by the morality police.

Iranian authorities have blamed foreign parties for starting the latest wave of protests and described them as “riots”.

Last month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in his speech on the 34th anniversary of Khomeini’s death that the riots that took place last fall were “thoroughly planned in the think tanks of Western countries and carried out with extensive financial, military and media support. It is the support of Western security agencies, traitors and mercenaries who oppose their homeland, and agents who pursue policies hostile to Iran.”

Khamenei went through a long list of accusations against Western countries, saying that they included “teaching how to make hand grenades through foreign media, propagating separatist slogans and armed movements, high-level politicians of some Western governments taking pictures with mercenaries claiming to be Iranian. “

Hundreds of citizens and dozens of security forces were killed on the sidelines of the protests, and the authorities arrested more than 20,000 people. He also stopped foreign tourists coming to the country.

In October, Iran’s foreign ministry condemned French President Emmanuel Macron for expressing solidarity with the protesters, saying it was “confusing” and served to encourage “violent people and lawbreakers”.

In May, Iran released two French prisoners, and France wants the return of four citizens still detained in Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told “Le Figaro” newspaper that Paris has taken positive steps and the parties are continuing their contacts to resolve misunderstandings.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called 4 French citizens detained by Iran “hostages”.

Among those detained are Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were arrested on May 7, 2022, Louis Arnoud, who has been in custody since September 28, and another French national whose detention has been confirmed but not released.