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The Real Story: Understanding the unrest in France

Factual

Understanding the unrest in France

07/07/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Understanding the unrest in France

Why the killing of a 17 year old by police sparked riots in cities across France.

French cities have been engulfed by almost a week of intense riots, following the death of a teenager. Nahel M was shot at point blank range by police after he refused to stop for a traffic check in his hometown of Nanterre, a north-west Parisian suburb. The unrest led to more than 3,000 arrests and the deployment of tens of thousands of police around France. The riots have exposed deep divisions in French society. On The Real Story this week: why has France again been rocked by violent unrest? What makes so many of those who live in the suburbs of France’s major cities feel neglected by the state and politicians? And what are the government and opposition parties proposing as solutions?

Shaun Ley is joined by:

- Rim-Sarah Alouane, a French legal scholar and commentator at the University Toulouse-Capitole in France

- Professor Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics at University College London

- Laetitia Strauch-Bonart, French writer and Editor at the French news magazine L'Express 

Also featuring: 

- Natalia Pouzyreff, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party

- Inès Seddiki, founder of GHETT’UP, an organisation which works with young people in France’s suburbs


(Photo: The French interior minister has asked regions to ban the sale of fireworks, petrol cans and flammable products. Credit: Getty Images)

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