As soon as the usher opened the door, about twenty young faces rushed into the courtroom, giving the courtroom 101 of the Strasbourg court a classroom-like atmosphere. This Friday, October 9, about thirty people came to support their fellow wrestler, who was appearing for violence against a police officer during the high school mobilization day on October 6. The case is part of a broader wave of protests related to education policy, which have sparked demonstrations across France. "At first, everything went well, we followed the route," said Ali M., retracing his steps from the steps of the court. "And then it turned into a wild demonstration and the street medics followed." With his first aid certificate, Ali joined the street medics team shortly after the high school demonstrations, "shocked by the repression of these demonstrations."
"When he was arrested, he had the full kit of a street medic: physiological serum, etc.," listed his lawyer, Maître Alexis Galand. In total, his client will spend 53 hours in custody, the maximum regulatory 48 hours and five additional hours waiting to appear before the judge of liberties. "It was a difficult moment, I was treated like a criminal," he recounts, mentioning the insults he heard from his cell. "The evidence is very thin," when the young man walks through the courtroom, smiles blurred by the absurdity of the situation struggle to be restrained. For his lawyer, Ali is on trial while "the evidence is very thin." He details: "There is only one witness, the exploitation of videos, the exploitation of drone images and those of the in-car cameras have given nothing. There is nothing."
Previously, he had been accused of shooting a projectile at a police officer and of breaking his jaw, his lawyer grumbles, which is why the young man was placed in custody. The police officer had been injured in the head by a stone. "But the victim did not see who threw the stone," whispers Maître Alexis Galand. Ali is finally being prosecuted for having launched two projectiles, but nothing regarding the injury to the police officer. "We do not understand the PV (police report, note of the editor) that was drawn up," immediately snaps Christophe Deshayes, the president, before mentioning the three police officers present during Ali's arrest: "I have a difficulty in this case, it is that Stéphane B. was not heard, Madame F., we do not know who she is talking about, and the procedure is based on M., whose defense is requesting a cross-examination."
Representing the public prosecutor, Stéphane Renard supports: "I myself had to read it two or three times to understand." The case of the young street medic has finally been postponed to November 26, 2026. While waiting for his trial, it was decided to maintain his judicial control, including notably the prohibition of participating in a street demonstration. "And if I pass by there?" Ali asks, arguing that since the beginning of the high school mobilizations, the city center is regularly crossed by undeclared demonstrations. "Make a big detour," advises the president, specifying that only the judge of liberties can decide on the revocation of a judicial control. A decision that regrets Maître Alexis Galand, who contested the postponement of the case: "They are prohibiting him from demonstrating for a long period, the facts are seriously contested and Mr. has committed no violence, it was seen. He still has the right to express his opinions."
Young Wrestler's Trial for Alleged Police Violence During Demonstrations Postponed
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