Iran today called on the French government to “stop the brutal treatment” of its citizens and “show restraint” following the unrest sparked by the death of a 17-year-old youth by a police officer.

“We recommend the French government and the police to pay attention to their requests protesters and to show self-restraint, avoiding any violence”, stated Nasser Kanani Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Twitter.

“The French government must stop the violent treatment of its citizens while respecting the principles of human dignity, freedom of expression and the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully,” he added.

According to the representative, “discrimination against immigrants and the fact that some European countries avoid accepting and correcting bad attitudes towards them have created unfavorable conditions for European citizens, and in France.”

The Iranian ministry also asked Iranians to avoid “non-essential travel to France due to the current crisis”.

Iranian media have devoted extensive coverage to the incidents that have erupted in several French cities after 17-year-old Nael was shot dead by a police officer on Tuesday in Nanterre during a traffic stop.

The Iranian authorities had criticized the messages of solidarity that had been sent by European countries to protest movement that broke out in Iran in the fallafter her death Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by the morality police for not wearing her headscarf properly.

On October 14, Kanani had denounced “the intervention” of the French president Emmanuel Macron, who had expressed his support for the protesters. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands arrested during this movement.