A gathering in tribute to Lyhanna is being held this Monday in Paris, in front of the Ministry of Justice. despite a ban targeting this demonstration site. The protesters gathered near the Ministry of Justice, Place Vendôme, despite authorities having banned the gathering in front of the ministry. The mobilization began in the early evening, amidst strong emotions surrounding the Lyhanna case.
Protesters maintain their presence in front of the ministry
Despite the ban, several people went to the site to pay tribute to Lyhanna. Signs were held up in the crowd. A police presence was visible around the gathering. The demonstration took place in front of a highly symbolic location: the Ministry of Justice. The protesters chose to gather specifically in front of this institution, even though the gathering was prohibited.
A national mobilization in tribute to Lyhanna
In Paris, as elsewhere in France, gatherings were announced in tribute to Lyhanna. Approximately 200 demonstrations were planned nationwide. These gatherings aimed to honor the young girl and to demand justice.
Justice under pressure
The main suspect, 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, has been formally charged and placed in pretrial detention. He is presumed innocent at this stage. Several previous proceedings, complaints, and reports had already targeted him for offenses involving minors, including complaints of rape of minors. Some of these cases had been dismissed, while others were still ongoing at the time of Lyhanna's disappearance.
Gérald Darmanin acknowledged shortcomings in the judicial handling of the case. The Minister of Justice apologized to the family and stated that the judicial system had failed to protect the little girl. He instructed the public prosecutors to review all complaints concerning children, some 70,000 cases, by July 14th. But this did little to quell the anger of the French, weary of broken promises and the persistent ineffectiveness of the French justice system, incapable of self-reflection despite its repeated failures.
