The family of a 35-year-old Mauritanian migrant worker who died while in police custody in Paris has accused French officers of killing him, adding to growing public anger over alleged cases of police brutality in the country.
El Hacen Diarra died overnight from Wednesday to Thursday after being arrested near the migrant dormitory where he lived. His relatives insist that police violence caused his death and are demanding an independent judicial investigation, rather than an internal police probe.
According to his brother, Ibrahima Diarra, El Hacen had been sitting outside the dormitory drinking coffee when he encountered police officers late on Wednesday evening. Speaking at a memorial attended by hundreds of supporters, he said his brother had come to France to work and build a better life.
“He came to France to earn a living, and now he is gone forever,” Ibrahima told the crowd, describing the family’s shock and grief.
A video filmed by neighbours and widely shared on social media appears to show a police officer punching a man lying on the ground while another officer looks on. The footage has intensified public suspicion and fuelled demands for accountability.
The family’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed, accusing police of “intentional violence leading to death.” He said witnesses reported seeing a pool of blood at the scene of the arrest, further raising concerns about the level of force used.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said an investigation has been opened but maintained that officers followed procedure. According to the police account, officers approached Diarra after seeing him roll a cannabis joint. When he refused a body search, they attempted to arrest him.
Police claim Diarra fell to the ground twice, pulling two officers down with him. One officer said he used a taser, including on Diarra’s ankle. He was then taken into custody on suspicion of resisting arrest, possessing suspected cannabis, and carrying forged documents.
Prosecutors said police requested that Diarra be taken to the hospital because of a wound on his eyebrow. While waiting on a bench at the police station, however, he reportedly lost consciousness. Officers and emergency medical teams attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
The case has reopened wider debates about police violence in France, particularly involving minorities and migrants. Critics say such cases rarely result in criminal trials.
Several high-profile incidents have already shaken public trust in law enforcement. In one case, a prosecutor has called for an officer to be tried over the 2023 killing of a teenager during a traffic stop, a shooting that triggered nationwide protests.
Human rights groups argue that Diarra’s death reflects deeper structural problems in policing and accountability. The family insists that only an independent investigating magistrate can ensure a fair and transparent inquiry into what happened.