Paris : France has prevented a pro-Palestinian rally, scheduled to be held here Saturday, as a measure to avoid risk of violence after clashes erupted during a same demonstration a week ago, a media report said Friday.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the decision was justified after violent acts overshadowed last Sunday’s rally. “According to the elements provided by Paris police chief, I consider that the conditions to ensure the safety in the demonstration are not present,” reported Xinhua citing the minister on local broadcaster Europe1.
“I cannot accept a repetition (of these acts of violence) and I cannot take the risk of seeing French citizens, whatever their religious affiliations, exposed to violence.”
The demonstration’s organisers said they would appeal the decision.
On July 14, thousands of people marched in the capital streets to denounce Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. Nine people, including six policemen, were slightly injured after protesters clashed with police and others attacked two synagogues.
French President Francois Hollande recently stressed that “the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be brought in France”.