Is this a video of a recent protest by refugees in France? Know the truth.

Violence on a large scale erupted in France over the death of a teenage boy in a police shootout. Protestors came to the streets and burned vehicles and public properties. Police detained many protestors. Additional forces were sent to neutralize the situation. 

In the backdrop of this, a video of a mass protest is circulating on social media platforms. It was claimed that these protestors are refugees and the incident took place in Republic Square in France. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be without proper context. This is an old incident when Algerians residing in France protested against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria’s President.)

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Fact Check- 

After a close look at the video, we found that the people were holding Algeria’s flag. As the recent incidents did not involve Algeria, it raised our suspicion whether this video is a recent one. 

A Google Reverse Image Search on a keyframe from the viral video led us to similar image uploaded on a website in 2019. According to the information, this incident took place in Place de la Republique in France. In this incident, demonstrators were waving Algerian flags to protest against the Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. 

A keyword search on Google led us to the Gulf Today report published on 11 March 2019. According to the report, Algerian origin people in France protested against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who was going for his fifth term as President of the nation. A huge-scale protest was held at Republique Square in central Paris. Protestors wanted the French President to support them in their peaceful protest.  

According to France 24, around 10,000 Algerians gathered at Republique Square in Paris and another 6000 marched in Marseille, a southern city in France. This protest was carried out against Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s willingness to continue as the President for the fifth term. Bouteflika was in power since 1999. Protestors requested French President Emmanuel Macron to take a firm stand but the government did not want to interfere in the internal matter of Algeria. 

Another News report carried a similar image of Algerians protesting at Republique Square. 

A video of the protest can also be seen in AFP News Agency’s YouTube channel. According to the information, demonstrators were waving Algerian flags occupy the Place de la République in Paris to protest against ailing Algerian president Adbelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found that an old video of Algerians protesting against their government in France viral without proper context. This video has no connection with recent incidents in France.