French police under fire for tear gassing of Arab cameraman covering protests

By Alaattin Dogru

ANKARA (AA) - Police in France have come under fire after footage emerged Thursday of an officer spraying tear gas at an Arab cameraman who was covering protests against the government’s controversial pension reform.

Loopsider, a video social media news platform, shared footage of their cameraman Amar Taoualit being blocked by riot police while filming anti-retirement reform demonstrations in Paris on March 16.

According to the footage, Taoualit filmed the police cornering a group of demonstrators while officers pressured him to back off.

"I'm working. I'm a journalist. Are you attacking journalists? I have a press card. I'm recording right now. Be careful, this will be online," he says in the footage.

"Go home. Get lost," an officer responds while spraying tear gas directly in his face.

Despite showing his press card, the police insistently sprayed Taoualit for a second time, preventing him from filming by removing him from the area.

"Clearly identified as a journalist with a press armband and being at a distance so as not to interfere with the work of law enforcement, I was gassed for no reason and prevented from doing my job as a journalist," Taoualit said on Twitter.

The video caused strong reactions in the country.