Repression, Bans, Sainte-Soline: France Beating Down Its Own Citizens

There is a line that democracies should never cross: using state force not to protect citizens, but to silence them. France has crossed it. Several times. And the images are there to prove it.

March 2023, Sainte-Soline. A protest against the mega-reservoirs. 200 protesters injured, 40 of them seriously. Injuries included fractures, lacerations, burns, hearing loss, and the loss of an eye. Two protesters were in critical condition and placed in a coma. A bloodbath. Wikipedia

In November 2025, Mediapart and Libération published footage from the gendarmes’ body cameras. The footage shows grenades—illegally—being fired directly at protesters, and gendarmes gloating over having caused serious injuries. One of them declares: “I signed up for this;

I waited 10 years in the gendarmerie to experience this.” Orders to fire directly at protesters were given in at least 9 out of 15 squadrons. Orders. Not individual initiatives. A strategy. POLITIS

Meanwhile, in Paris, Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez announced that he would ban the pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for October 28, 2023. “The organizations that filed this notice are organizations that, based on statements they may have made, could give the impression that they support Hamas,” he explained. A