French justice minister says 217 people jailed over riots
The justice minister said 2,700 people had been detained, while lawyers criticised the rapid trials and overcrowding in French prisons.
French justice minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Thursday that 217 people have been jailed following convictions in fast-track trials linked to last weekend's riots. Speaking outside the Fleury-Merogis prison, Darmanin hailed the judiciary's "extremely firm" response to the unrest.
Since Saturday, 2,700 people have been detained across France. Of these, more than 1,000 appeared in court, and 217 have been sentenced to imprisonment. This figure is expected to continue rising significantly.
According to Darmanin, half of the 217 individuals jailed have no prior criminal record. The majority of the convicted are men aged between 18 and 25, indicating that the judiciary is targeting first-time offenders who were previously unknown to the legal system.
Darmanin emphasized that this demonstrates the judiciary's commitment to applying decisions in a firm manner. He has vowed to expedite trials to clear the backlog of cases and serve as a deterrent against future riots. New protests are planned for this weekend, stemming from issues such as rising living costs.
However, Darmanin's approach has faced criticism from some quarters.
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