Hundreds Rally in Paris against 'Brutal' Migrant Removal (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thousands of protesters demonstrating in support of refugees started fires, lit flares, and chanted slogans for the second straight night at the iconic Place de la Republique in Paris on Tuesday.
French authorities on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the "brutal" removal by police of a camp of migrants in central Paris, as parliament gave initial approval to a new security law condemned by activists as eroding press freedom.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he had ordered that an investigation into the handling of the removal of the migrants late Monday from the Place de la Republique be taken up by the National Police Inspectorate General (IGPN).
The government was already facing a storm of criticism over the security legislation, which critics say shows that the government of President Emmanuel Macron is veering sharply to the right.
The lower house of parliament Tuesday evening gave initial approval to the legislation -- which would restrict the publication of photos or videos of police officers' faces -- although it still faces further legislative hurdles.
Officers used tear gas to break up the Paris camp, which was set up to protest against earlier forced evacuations of hundreds of migrants from other camps.
Volunteers had helped erect about 500 blue tents that were quickly filled by migrants, the majority from Afghanistan.
Police arrived shortly afterwards to remove the tents, sometimes with people still inside, in the face of protests from migrants and jeers from activists.
Police later used tear gas and rough tactics, with videos posted on social media showing one officer tripping a man as he ran, and another officer slamming into a man who tried to intervene.
The controversy comes a week after migrants were evacuated from makeshift shelters in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, including some who were not provided with alternative shelter.
Paris prosecutors meanwhile opened criminal probes into alleged use of violence by a person in authority over the tripping incident and complaints by a journalist he had been aggressed.
Paris' Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote a letter to Darmanin denouncing the "brutal and disproportionate use of force" by the security forces, which she said was "unfortunately not without precedent" in the city.
Macron swept to power in 2017 as a centrist who rallied support from across the political spectrum. But critics and even some supporters accuse him of tilting to the right as he seeks re-election in 2022.
