A year after Nahel’s death, his loved ones march and fight for a trial

A year after the death of Nahel, which caused an outbreak of urban violence throughout France, a white march was organized on Saturday in Nanterre. Several hundred people demanded “Justice for Nahel”.

At first there were silences. Many silences, until the arrival of the procession of the white march on Saturday, June 29, at the place where Nahel was killed by a police shot, a little over a year ago in Nanterre. After a time of prayer, his family spoke. “I miss him a lot, my grandson. I can’t speak,” said Nahel’s grandmother, who only lasted a few seconds at the microphone in front of the audience.

Mounia Merzouk, Nahel’s mother, then spoke for several minutes, describing her pain over the past year and the injustice she feels about the police officer who killed Nahel. “The pain I have inside me, I can’t even describe it to you. It’s very hard, I suffer. You see me like that, dressed, brushed. It’s just external. I can’t not show you how I live at home, when I go home, I no longer have anyone, I no longer have my baby.” describes Nahel’s mother.

“When he [le policier] wakes up in the morning, he has his son who will say good morning to him, he will kiss him. Me, who do I kiss? I look at my son’s room, it’s empty, right in front of me. It’s too hard for me.”

Mounia Merzouk, Nahel’s mother

at the march in tribute to his son

Anger is still present in this family, in this neighborhood, where the participants in this white march asked “Justice for Nahel”. One of the young man’s cousins ​​agreed to speak to franceinfo. “We will always remain united in relation to Nahel. We will always fight until the end. Personally, I will fight until my death. From the moment my blood was taken from me, I do not accept. I am revolted and I will be revolted until the end.” she promises.

Two investigating judges are trying to establish the circumstances of the death of this teenager who had just turned 17. Now, this family is awaiting a trial. “to be able to move on in our lives”, says Nahel’s cousin.

“We will never forget Nahel. He will always be there. But once there is a conviction, it is not the same, you move on. You do not tell yourself that the policeman is at home sleeping with his wife, with his children. Because Mounia, she is alone at home. There are no children, there are no parents. What he did, he must pay for,” she concludes.

The police officer indicted for murder found freedom in November. He was placed under judicial supervision after four months of pre-trial detention.