The tragic events of the last few days have a racial/social background. France, known for its so-called friendly policy towards immigrants from Northern Africa, has to deal with an increasing problem of exclusion from French society of groups of, mainly Muslim, immigrants. French politicians know well, that this is one of the most important issues of French interior policy. The reason of such a need is obvious to all French people: France has the largest number (4-5 million) of Muslim inhabitants of all countries of Western Europe.
Even though the government tried to carry out a policy of tolerance and help towards French Muslims it was hardly impossible to avoid racism and social problems with their minority. This is the background of the biggest riots for a decade on the streets of Paris.
The statistics are horrific. Thousands of vehicles have been burnt, hundreds of youths have been arrested, many of them, as well as other incidental victims, hospitalized after being hurt during the riots.
The main politicians: President Jacques Chirac, the Prime Minister Dominique de Villipin and the most controversial member of the French government - the Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy appealed to the protesters for peace and renunciation of violence. "Emotions must quiet down" - said Mr. Chirac. But it seems that the authorities have no formula for solving the increasing problem. Even though the president and the prime minister do their best to appease the riots and negotiate with the representatives of the frustrated immigrants who decided to show their anger in such a barbaric manner, the Interior Minister, Sarkozy, known for his uncompromising social policy, behaves in a manner which makes the prospect of an agreement even less possible to reach. This politician declared "war without mercy" on violence in the working class suburbs.
This area of Paris was built up during the post-war period to move workers out of the city and closer to the industrial zones that employed them. Years later the suburbs have become ghettos for the poor and immigrants from Northern Africa who are getting more and more frustrated. The unemployment rate is as high as 30 percent in some of these places.
The international press emphasises that the problem of immigrants in France has changed in the few last years. In the past it was mainly connected with the unemployment issue, today it has new aspects. Black youths in France, not only in Paris, feel there is nothing to do to solve their problem of poverty. They feel so excluded, that crime and drug dealing have become means of survival for them. Now, in France, nobody believes that the concept of equality is realistic. Ethnic minorities in France feel deceived. An immigration specialist at the French Institute for International Relations, Christophe Bertossian said about Muslim inhabitants: "For them, vandalism is something to do in the evenings. The vandalism has simply taken a new turn in the last few days because they feel provoked by Nicolas Sarkozy. They are blaming everything on Sarkozy, but the problem is much bigger.
The riots are spreading across the country, from Rouen in Normandy to Bordeaux in the southwest to Strasbourg near the German border. The prime minister has tried to find a way to break the chain of violent events by talking with top Muslim officials, but the riots are continuing.
The police arrested hundreds of teenagers who took part in the protests. The number of policemen on duty is still increasing. They use helicopters to videotape incidents and coordinate with officers on the ground. The authorities of three main French religions: Roman Church, Protestants and Islam appealed for calm. It has not helped so far. Instead of ending the riots we can read the blogs and chats on the Internet full of anger of young French immigrants appealing for others to take part in the next riots.
The American and Russian governments have warned their citizens visiting Paris to avoid its poor, outlying neighbourhoods. The French capital has been shaken by violent protests of immigrants for almost two weeks now.
