Salah Abdeslam exercises his “right to silence” during the hearing devoted to his interrogation on the evening of the attacks

Salah Abdeslam, the main accused in the trial of the November 13 attacks, decided on Wednesday March 30 to exercise his “right to silence” by refusing to answer questions from the special assize court. “Mr. President, gentlemen and ladies of the court. Today, I wish to make use of my right to silence”declared Salah Abdeslam at the opening of the hearing, which was to be devoted to his interrogation on the evening of November 13, 2015, provoking sighs on the benches of the civil parties.

“Well, I’m going to ask questions and I won’t get any answers, right?”asked President Jean-Louis Périès. “Yes that’s it”replied in a calm voice the accused, dressed all in black. “For what reasons ?”asked the president of the court, disconcerted and disappointed by the attitude of the accused. “You were sometimes provocative, I told you, but you were able to have understanding words with regard to the victims”he then explained to Salah Abdeslam.

“There are many reasons not to speak. It is also so that I am not called a provocateur that I no longer wish to express myself. It is my right, I do not have to justify myself. “

Salah Abdeslam

during the trial of the attacks of November 13

The right to silence, “it is a right that I have and I do not wish to give explanations”he continued. “I made an effort, I kept silent for six years. Then I changed my mind, I spoke to the victims with respect. Today, I no longer want to express. I can no longerhe concluded before sitting down on his bench.