Calm is restored

last updated 8 January 2015

Paris

The French government this week finally ended the state of emergency it declared back in early November, when Muslim youths began rioting. The rioters, mostly the offspring of Moroccan and Algerian immigrants, torched thousands of cars during three weeks of riots in protest over discrimination and unemployment. The state of emergency imposed curfews in many urban housing projects and allowed police to search homes at will. Nearly 3,000 people have been arrested. “Public forces mobilized fully during this crisis,” said President Jacques Chirac, “enabling us to restore peace, calm, and respect for the law.”