Mauritanian Man Dies in Parisian Police Custody,Sparking Outrage and Calls for Justice
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A 35-year-old Mauritanian national died while in police custody in Paris during the night of January 17-18,2026,after being arrested for allegedly rolling a joint. The death has ignited protests and renewed scrutiny of police practices in France, wiht the family alleging violence and demanding a thorough examination.
Vigil Held as Family Seeks Answers
Several hundred people gathered in Paris on January 18, 2026, to pay tribute to El Hacen Diarra, observing a minute of silence at the migrant workers’ hostel where he resided. The vigil underscored the growing public concern over deaths in police custody and the treatment of marginalized communities.
“He came to look for his bread in France, he is gone forever,” declared his brother, Ibrahima Diarra, expressing the family’s profound grief. The gathering drew support from elected officials, including Sofia Chikirou, a candidate for Paris town hall representing the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, who called for a “political fight against racism, discrimination, for truth and justice.”
Investigation Launched Amid Allegations of Police Violence
French authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of death, categorized as a “search for the causes of death.” However, the family disputes this characterization, alleging that El hacen diarra was subjected to police violence. They claim to have video evidence supporting their claims, and their lawyer, yassine Bouzrou, has filed a complaint for “intentional violence leading to death,” requesting the appointment of an investigating judge.
Why did this happen? El Hacen Diarra was arrested on January 17-18, 2026, for allegedly rolling a joint. Who was involved? El Hacen Diarra, the Parisian police, his family, lawyer yassine Bouzrou, and political figure Sofia Chikirou. What occurred? Diarra died while in police custody, prompting allegations of police violence and a formal investigation.How did it end? The case is currently under investigation, with the family seeking an self-reliant inquiry and justice for Diarra’s death.
A Life Cut Short: remembering El Hacen diarra
El Hacen Diarra, a member of the Soninké ethnic group, had lived at the migrant workers’ hostel for several years, having originally come from Baydam, a town near the border of Mali and Senegal. Neighbors described him as a quiet and kind individual with artistic talent.
“He was very calm, kind, smiling and discreet. A bit in his own world,” said Ladi Sacko, a neighbor. “He was a trained artist, who went out every evening to drink coffee on the low wall downstairs from the home.” Sacko further emphasized the vulnerability of migrants, stating, “The foreigners who live in the shelters are not animals, they are workers who left their country to provide for the needs of their families, not to be killed. We count on the State to provide justice,” and denounced what he described as repeated police checks conducted outside the hostel.
The circumstances surrounding El Hacen Diarra’s death remain under investigation, but the case has already become a focal point for discussions about police accountability and the rights of migrants in France.
