Iran has strongly condemned the "repression of demonstrators in France", calling on Paris to avoid violence and "listen" to demonstrators, and the Council of Europe expressed concern about the "excessive use of force" against demonstrators, following a new day of protests against the pension system reform punctuated by violence in which hundreds were arrested.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a tweet: "We strongly condemn the suppression of the peaceful demonstrations of the French people."
"We call on the French government to respect human rights and refrain from resorting to force against its people, who peacefully continue their demands," he said.
The Iranian minister's tweet came shortly after a tweet by ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani in which he said: "The French government should speak to its people, listen to their voice."
"We do not support vandalism and riots, but we say instead of sowing chaos in other countries, you should listen to the voice of your people and avoid using violence against them," Kanaani said.
"Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm. This kind of violence is contrary to teaching others moral lessons."
Kanaani points to criticism from several countries, including France, of the "suppression" of demonstrations that followed the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16 after police arrested her for violating Iran's strict dress code.
The European Union, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom, have imposed a series of sanctions on Tehran for "suppressing" demonstrations led mainly by women.
Council of Europe concerned about 'excessive use of force'
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic on Friday expressed concern about the "excessive use of force" against demonstrators protesting against the reform of France's pension system, calling on Paris to respect the right to demonstrate.
The Council of Europe is an organization concerned with the rule of law and human and social rights on the European continent, founded after the end of the Second World War, and brings together dozens of countries from within and outside the Union.
"There have been violent incidents, some of which have targeted law enforcement," Mijatovic said in a statement.
"But sporadic acts of violence by some demonstrators or other irregularities committed by others during the protest cannot justify excessive use of force by state officials, nor deprive peaceful protesters of the enjoyment of the right to freedom of assembly."
"The authorities must allow the effective exercise of these freedoms, by protecting peaceful protesters and journalists covering these demonstrations from police violence and from violent individuals moving in or on the margins of marches," Mijatovic stressed.
Mijatovic also expressed concern about the arrest and detention of some demonstrators and people near the demonstrations, and questioned "the necessity and appropriateness of such measures."
In recent days, bar associations, judges and left-wing politicians have taken positions denouncing police violence during demonstrations against pension reform.
The NGO Reporters Without Borders on Friday called on Interior Minister Gérald Darmanan to "put an end to police violence against journalists".
France has been witnessing demonstrations and strikes over the pension reform prompted by President Emmanuel Macron and his government.
The protest movement gained new momentum after the government passed the reform bill without a vote in the National Assembly on the basis of a constitutional provision.