According to our information, 3 individuals are currently in custody in Dijon for the organization of an undeclared demonstration. They are suspected of being at the initiative of the demonstration of Turkish nationalists on Thursday, October 29 in the streets of Dijon.
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According to our information, 3 individuals were arrested and are currently in custody for organizing an undeclared demonstration. They are suspected of having organized the demonstration which brought together about sixty Turkish natonalists on the evening of October 29 in the streets of Dijon.
In the aftermath of clashes in the Rhone Valley between Turkish and Armenian communities, the event had aroused broad condemnation by the political class.
Investigation opened for “violence in meetings”
This Saturday 31 October, the Prosecutor of the Republic of Dijon, Eric Mathais declared that an investigation was underway. Three charges were brought against the demonstrators: participation in a violent group, violence in meetings on custodians as well as the organization of a demonstration without declaration.
A demonstration of several dozen people claiming to be from the Turkish community took place on Thursday evening, October 29, shortly after 8 p.m. in the city center of Dijon. The demonstrators displaying Turkish flags notably walked the rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the district of the Grand Théatre before taking the direction of the station of Dijon.
Images of the #manifestation of #turks at #Dijon tonight #France #Turkey To be honest, I don’t really know why they were demonstrating if someone could explain it to me? pic.twitter.com/NOcUl9rpK9
— ???????????????????????? Fire???? (@mariam_vna) October 29, 2020
Among the slogans heard “Terrorist Armenia” and insults to French President Emmanuel Macron, punctuated by proclamations “Allahou Akbar” et of slogans favorable to Turkish President R. Erdogan.
The demonstrators were then dispersed as they approached Dijon station. The police used tear gas.
Demonstration of Turkish identities with cries of#God Akbar in the city center of #dijon. Chilling after the day today. pic.twitter.com/VU4YZ3dAPB
– Jim Cannolo (@CannoloJ) October 29, 2020
Wide convictions
The various videos filmed by demonstrators but also witnesses have for some been seen more than 100,000 times. In the evening, several elected officials reacted. This is the case of Gilles Platret, mayor (LR) of Chalon-sur-Saône and candidate for the presidency of the regional council of Bourgogne Franche-Comté: “Communitarianism is gaining ground once again in #Dijon, thanks to an identity demonstration tonight by #Turks against a background of religious cries, in the city center. What a pity to see, after the interethnic riots of this summer, this city so gangrenous! “
These comments have multiplied on the right, on the extreme right, but also on the left, like Arnaud Guvenatam, representing France Insoumise in Dijon. “I take exception to this demonstration of Erdogan’s sympathizers in Dijon. Gray wolves or AKP Islamists [le parti du président turc Recep Tayp Erdogan] do not have to demonstrate in this way. These unsavory people are attacking our compatriots of Armenian origin. It’s intolerable.”
This Friday morning, the prefect of Côte d’Or, Fabien Sudry “condemn in the strongest way” the demonstration “about 70 young people who flew Turkish flags”. A
No degradation or deterioration is to be deplored, let the prefecture know. The intelligence services are working to identify participants.
This Friday morning, it is the mayor of Dijon (PS), François Rebsamen who in turn brings the condemnation of the rally. ” The religious slogans are unbearable, while France is in mourning, the very day of the attack on the Basilica of Nice which claimed the lives of three people and sowed terror. I hope that this kind of demonstration, a real provocation towards the Republic, will be prohibited “.
The mayor of Dijon takes the opportunity to respond directly to his counterpart from Chalon-sur-Saône, Gilles Platret. “As for the mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône who spoke in an odious tweet, I regret the smallness of his mind. His regional electoral aims do not in my opinion justify dishonoring the office of Mayor in this way.”
Several precedents in recent days
Wednesday October 28, in the Rhone valley, a demonstration of “support for the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh” blocked the A7 motorway. Quickly, the protest degenerated into clashes between Turkish and Armenian communities. Clashes have since continued in Vienne (Isère) and Decines in the suburbs of Lyon.
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