PARIS: After the police officer was released from custody, the mother of a French teenager who was killed by police sparked riots across the country for more than one week has urged supporters to hold another protest this weekend.
Nahel M., a 17-year-old Frenchman of North African descent, was shot at point blank range in June by police while he was driving through the Nanterre neighborhood of Paris. A video of the incident was posted on social media.
Uncomfortable questions about police brutality, living conditions, and the integration of the vastly diverse populations of France’s impoverished suburbs were raised by the killing and subsequent rioting.
Following the release of the policeman accused of killing Nahel’s mother Mounia from pre-trial custody on Wednesday, the woman called for protests in Nanterre on Sunday afternoon.
She fought back tears in the late-Thursday video, saying,” I will fight, I wo n’t give up for my son.”
The 38-year-old officer, who can only be identified as Florian M., is still being watched by the court and has his movements restricted.
Nahel’s mother referred to the “real injustice” of his release.
How is it possible that this justice system values my son’s life so little? In the video, the mother, who raised her son by herself, stated.
‘RELIEVED’
According to a copy of the judicial reasoning seen by AFP on Friday, the investigating judges ordered the policeman’s release and cited” concerted action” among police officers as justifications.
Additionally, the judges noted “discrepancies” between different accounts of the incident. While” the issue of public order still exists,” they claimed, “it is less serious now.”
The pre-trial detention no longer seems to be the only way to guarantee the defendant’s protection, the judges added five months after the murder.
Laurent-Franck Lienard, the policeman’s attorney, described his arrest as a “political detention” and said,” It was about time he got out.”
According to Lienard, his client is “relieved” and has rejoined his family.
Yassine Bouzrou, Nahel’s family attorney, declined to comment.
The investigation “has progressed,” according to the magistrates.
Speaking to witnesses or plaintiffs, approaching the shooting scene, and carrying a weapon are all prohibited for the officer.
Police were attempting to stop Nahel for an alleged traffic infraction when he pulled away, killing him.
Two police officers were seen standing by the side of the stationary car and one of them was pointing a gun at the driver, according to an AFP-authenticated video.
You’re going to get shot in the head, a voice can be heard saying.
Nahel was raised on the Pablo Picasso estate in Nanterre, a wealthy immigrant neighborhood in Paris. He was not a felon.