Hammelburg thinks the French government is doing it wrong. He has missed previous opportunities to prevent this kind of dissatisfaction and riots. And even the actions of the police – tough as nails and in almost military gear – the foreign commentator finds far from useful.
“When Algeria became independent from France in 1962, many Algerians who were then French citizens moved to the mother country”
But to truly understand the riots in France, we have to go back a few decades, according to Hammelburg. “When Algeria became independent from France in 1962, after a big war and attacks in France, many Algerians who were then French citizens moved to the motherland,” she says. “As a result, France has always had a large Muslim population, and much of it ended up in the banlieues, the slums of France’s major cities.”
Repeat since 2005
According to Hammelburg, Paris never took steps to improve the social standing of that group. ‘This was already expressed in big riots in 2005. Then people thought that the French government would wake up. But it didn’t happen. That’s why now we’re seeing a repeat of what happened then.’
A major complaint among people in those suburbs, who often have North African or Middle Eastern roots, is that they are much more likely to be stopped and policed. “Just like in the US,” says Hammelburg.
Once again the cause of the riots is a seventeen-year-old boy shot dead by a policeman during a traffic check. “But the riots now are much bigger than they were in 2005,” says Hammelburg. Macron is considering declaring a state of emergency. This is indeed a very serious situation.’
The police throw oil on the neighbor
According to the commentator, the approach of the police adds fuel to the fire. “Look at what those policemen look like: they look like military commandos in camouflage uniforms, with helmets and big rifles on their chests. They are very menacing. You must hope that these disturbances are a new reason to resume the whole discussion properly.’