Nahel M, a 20-year-old man who was learning to be an electrician and played rugby league, died after being shot by French police in Nanterre, near Paris.
The shooting occurred on June 26, 2023, after police stopped Nahel M and his friend for a routine check. According to police, Nahel M reached for a knife in his waistband and refused to drop it, prompting the officers to open fire. Nahel M was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting has sparked protests in Nanterre and other French cities, with demonstrators calling for an investigation into the circumstances of Nahel M's death. Police have said that they are conducting an internal investigation, but they have also defended the actions of the officers involved, saying that they acted in self-defense.
Nahel M's death is the latest in a series of incidents in France involving young men of African descent being shot by police. In 2020, Adama Traore, a 24-year-old Black man, died after being restrained by police in Paris. His death sparked widespread protests against police brutality in France.
The shooting of Nahel M has also raised questions about the use of force by French police. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases in which police have used excessive force, leading to the deaths of unarmed civilians.
The French government has pledged to reform the police, but it remains to be seen whether these reforms will be enough to address the concerns of many French citizens about police brutality.
In addition to the protests in Nanterre and other French cities, Nahel M's death has also been met with condemnation from human rights groups and politicians. Amnesty International has called for a "full and independent investigation" into the shooting, while the French Human Rights League has said that the incident "raises serious questions about the use of force by the police."
The shooting of Nahel M is a tragedy that has once again highlighted the issue of police brutality in France. It is important that the circumstances of his death are fully investigated and that those responsible are held accountable.