Body of Tunisian Migrant Abdelkader Dhibi Arrives in Tunisia
The body of Tunisian migrant Abdelkader Dhibi arrived on Friday evening at Tunis-Carthage International Airport, before being transferred to his hometown of Kasserine, where he will be buried on Sunday. Many relatives, family members, and neighbors from Kasserine and Tunis gathered at the airport to pay their respects. They denounced an "heinous" and "racist" crime, attributing responsibility to the French police and members of the Algerian community with whom the deceased lived and worked.
Family's Reaction
In a statement to the press, the deceased's family welcomed the official position expressed by President Kais Saied and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad. Tunisia has firmly condemned Dhibi's death and called on the French authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy, in order to guarantee the rights of the deceased and his family. The victim's mother, Halima Messbah Ouanassi, who was wearing a Tunisian flag on her shoulders, said she was "still in shock," while thanking the head of state for his interest in the case. The deceased's uncle, Houssein Dhibi, 78, said he was "deeply moved" and "concerned," recalling that his nephew had recently been in conflict with his employer and certain members of the Algerian community, after being evicted from his home and fired from his job.
Circumstances of Death
Abdelkader Dhibi died last Tuesday in Marseille, shot by French police after a dispute in the city center. On Wednesday, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad summoned the Chargé d'Affaires of the French Embassy in Tunis, in the absence of the ambassador, to convey a "strong protest" against what he called an "unjustified act." The ministry also asked the Tunisian ambassador to Paris to notify the French authorities of the same position, emphasizing the need for a "rapid and thorough" investigation.
Legal Action
Meanwhile, a collective of Tunisian lawyers announced that it will take charge of defending the deceased's rights before the French justice system.
