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A few thousand people gathered in Paris on Sunday to protest the death of a Mauritanian migrant worker who died while in police custody, shouting slogans against “a police force that kills us,” an AFP correspondent observed. The incident’s controversy is recent amid ongoing accusations by activists that French police departments are guilty of racism and violence.
The demonstration began at the shelter in the city’s northeast where El Hacen Diarra, 35, had been residing, and where police violently detained him on the night of January 14. Social media shared neighbor-recorded video that appeared to show an officer punching a man on the ground while another officer observes silently.
Gathering mostly to stand in solidarity with Diarra’s family—who also participated—the protesters displayed banners reading “Justice” and “RIP,” then proceeded to march to the local police station.
Diarra’s family has filed a lawsuit accusing the authorities of “deliberate violence resulting in death,” according to their lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, who spoke with AFP last week. An internal investigation by Paris police is underway regarding the circumstances.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reiterated on Sunday that officers involved should not be suspended unless definitive proof of misconduct emerges. “The officer who, in that footage, throws two punches will need to explain himself,” he told Le Parisien. “However, current evidence does not clarify the cause of death.”
Family members conveyed their perspectives. They said Diarra was peacefully drinking coffee outside the shelter when police arrived and the situation escalated. Diarra’s cousin, Diankou Sissoko, told AFP, “I don’t believe justice will be served because there have been similar deaths before, and nothing has ever been done.” She characterized Diarra as “kind, smiling, and quiet,” contrasting sharply with police descriptions of him as aggressive.
Allegations of police misconduct have surged in recent years, notably during the protests of the “Yellow Vest” movement from 2018 to 2019. While these accusations of brutality and racism are common, few cases go to criminal court; most are handled internally.
One recent case involves prosecutors seeking to prosecute an officer for the 2023 death of a teenager during a traffic stop, a case that sparked nationwide protests. A court decision on whether the officer will face a criminal trial for the killing of 17-year-old Nahel M is expected in March.
Additionally, in 2024, a judge handed down suspended sentences to three officers who caused permanent injuries to a Black man during a stop-and-search in 2017.
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