March Honoring Slain Teen Highlights France's Political and Racial Divides

One year after Nahel Merzouk's death, his mother leads a silent march as France prepares for pivotal elections.

Hundreds gathered in Nanterre to remember 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, killed by police in 2023.
The march occurred amid heightened political tensions and a rise in far-right sentiment.
Participants expressed fears of increased police violence and racial profiling.
The National Rally party, with anti-immigration policies, leads in polls ahead of the elections.
Merzouk's death became a symbol of systemic discrimination faced by French youth of immigrant backgrounds.