Silent march for Nahel Merzouk resonates amid racial tensions in France

A year has passed since the tragic murder of Nahel Merzouk, a French teenager of North African origin, by police officers. This incident, which caused a wave of emotion and riots throughout France, is commemorated by a silent march led by Nahel’s mother on Saturday.

This commemorative event comes at a crucial and politically charged time. The country is in the middle of an electoral campaign for early legislative elections, plagued by a rise in hate speech. The anti-immigration National Rally party, known for its links to racism and anti-Semitism, is leading the polls.

Relatives and friends will gather in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, to honor Nahel Merzouk, who was killed at close range during a traffic stop on June 27, 2023. Merzouk’s murder, captured on video, has become a symbol of the struggles faced by young French people of Maghrebi origin, highlighting racial discrimination and frequent police checks.

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