Overview
- El Hacen Diarra, 35, died overnight January 15–16 while held at the 20th arrondissement police station in Paris.
- Hundreds gathered outside his migrant workers’ hostel on January 18 to mourn and call for justice, according to local reports.
- The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation to determine the cause of death, which authorities have not publicly specified.
- The family’s lawyer filed a complaint alleging intentional violence causing death and requested the appointment of an examining judge.
- Video shared by relatives shows officers striking a man pinned to the ground, and activists cite audio they say includes the words “you are choking me,” fueling calls for independent oversight of police.