Grief
and outrage in France over the murder of a 12-year-old girl found
dumped in a plastic trunk in Paris has turned into a political row over
the migrant status of the suspect.
Lola's body was found last Friday in a courtyard outside the apartment block where she lived.
A 24-year-old woman has been remanded in custody on suspicion of murder, rape as well as acts of torture.
It has also emerged she is an Algerian immigrant under orders to leave France.
Shortly
after President Emmanuel Macron met the murdered girl's parents at the
Élysée Palace on Tuesday and promised his full support, political
opponents on the right and far right accused the government of failing
the family.
During
an animated session in the National Assembly, Marine Le Pen of the
far-right National Rally party condemned the government's "lax"
migration policy.
"The
suspect in this barbaric act should not have been in our country;
what's keeping you from finally putting a stop to this uncontrolled,
clandestine immigration?" she said.
Prime
Minister Elisabeth Borne appealed to her to "show a little decency" and
respect the parents' pain and Lola's memory, saying: "Let the police
and judiciary do their job."
Lola
disappeared last Friday after failing to make the short walk home from
school in the 19th district of north-east Paris. By late evening her
body had been found inside a trunk on wheels.
A
post-mortem examination found she had suffered cardiorespiratory
failure "with signs of asphyxiation and cervical compression". Wounds
were found to her face, back and neck but had not led to her death.
As
her father is the building's caretaker, he soon retrieved CCTV video
showing the suspect, Dahbia B, with his daughter in the hall of the
block of flats on Friday afternoon. A man aged 43 has been accused of
helping to hide the girl's body.
The government's political opponents have been quick to highlight Dahbia B's status as an illegal immigrant.
She
was initially stopped at a French airport on 20 August because her
residence permit had run out. She had entered France legally as a
student six years ago. Dahbia B was told to leave French territory
within a month, under an order known as an OQTF (obligation de quitter
le territoire français).
Although
some orders are more immediate, Dahbia B had no criminal record so she
was not placed in detention. OQTF orders are notorious because only one
in 10 are observed, and Algerians are among the nationalities considered
most likely to abuse the system.
Interior
Minister Gérald Darmanin appealed to the far right to reflect on the
consequences of their words, after far-right former presidential
candidate Éric Zemmour labelled the crime a "Francocide", or the killing
of a French person. There was, the minister told RTL radio, a great
deal of indecency in some of the political responses.
Several
other figures on the right were also critical of the government, with
Republican MP Éric Pauget telling the justice minister that "Lola lost
her life because you didn't expel this national".
Mystery
surrounds the motive behind the killing and the suspect's lawyer has
condemned the various rumours circulating locally. The Paris prosecutor
has revealed that a figure one and a zero were written under the
victim's feet, but have not suggested why.
One
potential motive cited by sources close to the investigation is a
dispute between the main suspect and Lola's mother. Dahbia B had been
living in the same building with her sister but when she asked for a
pass to enter the block of flats Lola's mother refused.
The
suspect is being held in isolation at Fresnes prison, south of Paris.
Reports suggest she was a victim of domestic abuse several year ago and
she is due to undergo a psychiatric examination.
A
silent protest in tribute to Lola has been called off on Wednesday
after a request from the family. However, a rally is expected to take
place the following day, at which several far-right politicians are
expected to take part.
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