“The police kill”: Laurent Nuñez files a defamation lawsuit against four LFI MPs
The Minister of the Interior refutes the remarks made by Manon Aubry, Paul Vannier, Aurélien Taché and Ersilia Soudais on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Zyed and Bouna.
By Le Parisien with AFPManon Aubry, Paul Vannier, Aurélien Taché, and Ersilia Soudais: these four members of parliament from La France Insoumise are in the crosshairs of Laurent Nuñez. The Interior Minister has filed a defamation lawsuit against them for their criticism of the police on the 20th anniversary of the deaths of Zyed and Bouna , the ministry announced on Wednesday.
On October 27, 2005, after being chased by police, Bouna Traoré, 15, and Zyed Benna, 17, were electrocuted at an EDF (French electricity company) site where they had sought refuge in Clichy-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis). Their deaths sparked a wave of riots across the country that lasted for three weeks.
“Twenty years ago, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré were killed during a police check. Since then, nothing has changed. Racism and violence continue to plague the police and cause deaths. Let’s stop turning a blind eye and end impunity, for justice and peace,” Manon Aubry wrote on Monday on X.
“Since the deaths of Zyed and Bouna, 162 people have lost their lives during police checks. 20 years later, the stories repeat themselves: the police still kill, and the victims are the same,” Aurélien Taché posted on the same social network.
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“I totally condemn (…) these remarks,” reacted Laurent Nuñez on Wednesday evening on the set of C à vous, on France 5. “They suggest that there is a systemic desire within the police to kill, to target young people, especially those from diverse backgrounds,” he denounced, criticizing the LFI deputies for using the expressions “colonial police” and “police that kills.”
After the death of the two teenagers, "which is obviously a tragedy", "the justice system was involved and did not convict the police officers because the action was proportionate, because it was within the scope of their normal duties," he commented.
The two police officers, prosecuted for failure to assist a person in danger after the tragedy, were acquitted in 2015 and then on appeal in 2016 .
Le Parisien
