Nael’s Tragedy: Victim’s Mother ‘Does Not Have Life Anymore’

Amid the mass arrests and vandalism that have characterized the ongoing protests in France, CNN’s affiliate BFMTV spoke to Nael’s grandmother, who said she is feeling “tired” in the aftermath of her grandson’s tragic death and the anti-government movement it has inspired all around France.

Rabat – Amid the mass arrests and vandalism that have characterized the ongoing protests in France, CNN’s affiliate BFMTV spoke to Nael’s grandmother, who said she is feeling “tired” in the aftermath of her grandson’s tragic death and the anti-government movement it has inspired all around France.

Nael’s mother “does not have a life anymore,” the grandmother said, urging the protesters calling for justice for her grandson to refrain from damaging schools, buses, and other public properties.

“It was the moms who take the buses,” the grandmother said, adding that she also feels tired and can’t take it anymore. “I can’t sleep, I turned off the TV, I turned everything off. I don’t want to listen to this anymore.”

Frustration and anger are still prevailing across France and throughout the world following the brutal killing of a 17-year old boy in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre.

Protests erupted in the Paris region last Tuesday after reports first emerged of the teenager’s tragic killing, and the demonstrations soon expanded to reach different other cities across France, including Lyon and Paris.

On Tuesday last week, a police officer shot Nael in cold blood while the unarmed teenager was driving a yellow Mercedes.

The police officer pointed his gun at the driver window and shot Nael’s dead when the victim refused to pull over during what French reports have described as “a routine police stop.”

The brutal killing of Nael triggered protests across France and worldwide solidarity with the victim. The killing also brought up a heated debate on the alarming increase of racism and hatred towards Muslims, Africans, Arabs, and immigrants.

Converging reports said there were fewer arrests on Sunday overnight compared to the past few days.

According to Reuters, around 160 people were arrested on Sunday in connection with protests and coaches of the police.

France mobilized over 45,000 police and security services to contain the protests.

On Saturday, over 700 arrests were made in connection with the protests, while over 1,300 people were arrested on Friday.

According to the French Ministry of Interior, at least 300 vehicles were burned in last week’s protests.