France's Court of Cassation to rule on Nahel Merzouk case requalification from murder to violence
via Algérie3603 min read
The Nahel Merzouk case has reached a new judicial phase, with France's Court of Cassation set to examine appeals against the reclassification of the facts from "murder" to "intentional violence resulting in death without intent to kill." This decision, made in March by the investigating chamber, is being challenged by the civil parties and the public prosecutor's office. The central question before the Court of Cassation is whether a police officer can use a potentially lethal weapon without intending to kill. The Court will consider requests from the defense, which seeks a dismissal, as well as from the civil parties and the public prosecutor's office, who dispute the reclassification. If the Court of Cassation rejects the appeals, the current classification will become final, meaning the officer, Florian M., will be tried for "intentional violence resulting in death without intent to kill." However, if the Court overturns the decision, the case will be re-examined by another court of appeal. Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old Algerian teenager, was fatally shot at close range by a police officer during a traffic stop on June 27, 2023. His death sparked widespread riots across France. Initially, two investigating judges had ordered the officer to stand trial for "murder." The Court of Cassation, which rules on the application of law rather than the facts of cases, will review the appeals. A report from the rapporteur counselor suggests the Court must determine if the investigating
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Five Algerian cities were ranked among the world's hottest on Friday, July 24, according to EldoradoWeather. Biskra registered the highest temperature globally at 49.4 °C, followed by Ouargla at 49.1 °C, and El Oued at 48.9 °C. Hassi Messaoud recorded 48.8 °C, and Touggourt reached 48.7 °C, completing the list of the top five hottest cities. This extreme heat is attributed to a "heat dome" phenomenon, where a high-pressure zone over North Africa traps hot air from the Sahara, preventing cloud formation and sea breezes. The National Meteorological Office ONM explained that this phenomenon has caused temperatures to reach up to 50 °C in some areas. The heatwave has also led to over 160 fires across the country, affecting more than half of the municipalities in certain wilayas, resulting in six deaths and the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests and agricultural land. The Minister of Interior stated that the majority of fires have been brought under control with the deployment of 18 aerial firefighting units, Civil Protection, and the National People's Army. The government is assessing damages to compensate victims, and judicial investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires, some of which are suspected to be criminal. The high energy demand during this period also caused electricity outages in 16 wilayas. An easing of the heatwave is expected early next week with a drop in atmospheric pressure and the arrival of cooler north-westerly winds.
Must ReadThe US administration is set to implement new tariffs on imports from 60 trade partners, including Algeria, starting this Friday at 00:01 New York time. This move follows a revision of Washington's tariff policy after previous surtaxes were canceled by the US Supreme Court. According to an exclusive report by Asharq Business with Bloomberg, 11 Arab countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, and Morocco, will face a 12.5% customs duty on their affected exports to the US. Jordan is an exception among Arab nations, receiving a reduced rate of 10%. This new tariff policy is based on an investigation by US authorities into compliance with forced labor prevention standards. The assessment covered 60 US trade partners and forms the basis for the new customs system, aiming to adjust tariffs according to the investigation's findings and establish a legal framework consistent with recent court decisions. Exempted sectors include energy products fuels, foodstuffs, and fertilizers. However, specific regimes will continue for sectors like automotive, metals, and pharmaceuticals, which remain subject to separate investigations and duties. The immediate implementation of these new taxes aims to prevent any legal vacuum in the processing of US imports following judicial decisions that challenged previous tariff measures. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, India, and Jordan, will benefit
Must ReadAlgerian authorities have exceptionally opened the Zouj Beghal border crossing to hand over a group of Moroccan nationals to Moroccan authorities. This operation involved 24 Moroccan citizens, including three women, who were attempting irregular migration. The transfer also included the remains of one Moroccan national. The Moroccan Association for Aid to Migrants in Difficult Situations reported these details and stated it is currently tracking over 500 cases related to irregular migration, including missing persons, detained individuals, and those awaiting repatriation. The association also noted that 138 people are currently in the process of repatriation. This humanitarian exchange highlights ongoing, albeit sporadic, cooperation between Algeria and Morocco on humanitarian issues, despite the diplomatic rupture and closed land borders between the two countries. Migrant advocacy organizations continue to call for accelerated repatriation procedures and clarification regarding the status of missing individuals.