20 Years After Oury Jalloh's Death in Police Custody, Questions of Accountability Persist

The controversial case has become a symbol of systemic police misconduct, with investigations highlighting failures but no evidence of murder.

Oury Jalloh, a Guinean asylum seeker, died in 2005 after being burned in a police cell in Dessau, Germany, under circumstances that remain disputed.
Multiple investigations revealed widespread procedural failures, including an unlawful arrest, improper detention, and negligence during the fire outbreak.
A 2020 report by independent investigators criticized police misconduct but found no evidence to support murder allegations, despite ongoing claims by advocacy groups.
Key evidence, such as a fire-damaged lighter, was discovered only days later, fueling accusations of inadequate or compromised investigations.
The case has prompted reforms in police practices in Sachsen-Anhalt, though it continues to be a focal point for debates on racial bias and systemic accountability in law enforcement.