The same call to justice in Rouen and Conakry. Several hundred people gathered Friday (July 26th) in France and Guinea to pay tribute to Mamoudou Barry, a young Guinean researcher aged 31 who was fatally assaulted a week earlier in Canteleu, Seine-Maritime. "Stop Racism", "Justice for Dr. Mamoudou Barry" chanted in Normandy walkers dressed in T-shirt with his effigy.
"We organized this white march in memory of our friend, also to denounce the racist character of the aggression of which he was a victim," said Ibrahima Barry, a close friend of Mamoudou Barry, contacted by France 24. "We let us hope that this march is stamped with pacifism and humility, and at the same time we want justice, "Jonas Haddad, the lawyer for the victim's family, told the press earlier.
In the Guinean capital, a hundred people demonstrated in the morning in front of the French Embassy to denounce racism and seek justice. "Down with racism", "No to violence", "Justice for Mamoudou" could we read on the banners brandished.
# Guinea At the moment Silent march in memory of the Guinean academic #MamoudouBarry killed @Rouen in #France #Justice #Plusjamaisca @AmbaFrGuinee @RFIAfrique @segadiallo @lemondefr pic.twitter.com/zSrk0qYlVc
Amadou Toure (@AmaCoronthie) July 26, 2019The death of Mamoudou had aroused a strong emotion in the country to the top of the state. "Very touched by the murder of Dr. Mamoudou Barry, I offer my deepest condolences to the Barry family and the people of Guinea," the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, said in particular. "The Government is following very closely the progress of the investigations carried out by the French authorities," he added.
Very touched by the murder of Dr. Mamoudou Barry, I extend my deepest condolences to the Barry family and to the people of Guinea.
The Government is closely following the progress of the investigations ordered by the French authorities. pic.twitter.com/CU40GM4KBt
"Mamoudou was someone brilliant"
On Friday, July 19, Mamoudou Barry was disgusted, shortly before the final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) between Algeria and Senegal, by a man of Turkish nationality when he was driving home with his car. wife, according to relatives of the victim. "The attacker pointed them out and said: 'You dirty blacks, we're going to fuck you tonight,'" said Kalil Aissata Kéita, a research professor at the University of Rouen, also a Guinean and "close friend." " of the victim.
Mamoudou Barry would have got out of his car to ask for explanations. The aggressor "punched him and bottle," then, Mamoudou "fell badly, he lost a lot of blood, someone tried to give him a cardiac massage," detailed Me Jonas Haddad . Transported to the University Hospital of Rouen, the university, father of a two-year-old girl, died of her wounds.
Mamoudou was someone brilliant. We arrived the same day in France in September 2012. We worked together for two years. I was his general secretary while he was vice-president of the Guinean student association in Rouen, "says Ibrahima Barry. "It's not just family and close friends who lose someone. It is also Guinea that loses a great talent.
The researcher had just "brilliantly supported his thesis on tax and customs policies in terms of foreign investment in French-speaking Africa," reads the website of the University of Rouen, where he also taught law.
"We want justice done"
Judicial information was opened for "willful violence resulting in death without intent to give it". The aggravating factor of the racist nature of the aggression was also retained. Arrested on Tuesday by the police, the suspect, a young man of 29, was quickly released for medical reasons. He has a long psychiatric history and has since been hospitalized.
Selçuk Demir, Mehmet A.'s lawyer, father of the suspect, challenges racist aggression. "To consider that the young man I know was at the origin of the facts, I have a big doubt about the motive.I do not think that Damien can be at the origin of a racist aggression" he told AFP. "There were eyewitnesses. Mamoudou would not have come out of his car if the aggressor had not gone so far in his remarks. We denounce the fact of being fierce against him because he is simply black. We want justice done, "replies Ibrahima Barry, who launched an online kitty to support Mamoudou's family. More than 44,000 euros have already been collected.
In a statement, SOS Racisme demanded that "all the light" be made, saying that "it floats on this criminal act a scent of racism on which the investigative services must quickly decide". The organization has also called for protest everywhere in France against racism Saturday at 1 pm.
According to the Facebook page "Justice for Mamoudou" rallies are scheduled for this weekend in Montpellier, Grenoble, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse and Paris.