Family of one of the victims was denied visas, ‘I’m so sad’

They were due to attend the trial and deliberations in the case of the explosion of a building in the Wilson district of Reims in 2013. Omar Laidouni and his son, brother and nephew of one of the victims, did not obtain their visa to attend the hearing and file a civil suit. A decision that is difficult to understand for this family living in Algeria.

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On April 28, 2013, during the day, a call from France turned the life of Omar Laidouni and his family living in Skikda, Algeria, upside down. Rachida died in the explosion of her building on Allée Beethoven in Reims. “It was my cousin who told us the newsremembers Ahmed Yacine Laidouni, Omar’s son, reached by telephone and who speaks French very well. How sad for us. My father’s two sisters lived in Reims.”

An investigation has been opened to understand the causes of the explosion which left three dead and a dozen injured. Rachida’s body is repatriated to Algeria. “My father did not come to France because he had to collect money for his sister’s funeral and organize everything.”Ahmed Yacine said again.

I told him it was an urgent matter, that we were summoned to court in France, in Reims, and that he needed help.

Then, 11 years pass. The time of a judicial investigation and a referral to the Reims judicial court of two companies and an employee. “Between 2013 and May 2024, nothing happenedcontinues the son of Omar Laidouni. But on May 24, precisely, we learned that the trial would take place from June 17 to 19 in Reims. An Algerian notary and bailiff informed us and the French justice system sent the documents to the Algerian justice system.”

The diplomatic prosecutor’s office is notified. “A bailiff brings my father the summons.” At 78, Omar Laidouni is no longer in good shape and cannot afford to come to France alone. He asks his son Ahmed Yacine to take care of the visa applications and to accompany him to become a civil party and attend the trial.

From June 17 to 19, the trial of the explosion of the building in the Wilson district of Reims took place at the Reims judicial court. • © France Télévisions

No time to lose. The trial took place three weeks later and on May 29, the father and son went to the consulate in Annaba, where they depended in Algeria. “I found an Algerian agent there who told me that he could do nothing for me, explains Ahmed Yacine Laidouni. He gave me the consulate’s email address and as soon as I got back, I wrote a first message.”

Without a response, the father and son decide to go back to the site to try to find a solution. French gendarmes hear the request and call the visa service and a French agent comes to meet Ahmed Yacine and Omar. “I told him it was an urgent matter, that we were summoned to court in France, in Reims, and that we needed help. The person asked me to send a message back with all my documents, which I did again.”

It’s sad. I’m so sad and it hurts. You made me feel weak and disrespected.

This time, this new email is processed, but it is not until June 9 that the French consulate gets back in touch for an appointment, two days later. The two men have booked their plane tickets and the departure is scheduled for June 16 at 8 a.m. They must then speak with a lawyer in Reims and go to court on the eve of the trial.

On June 11, their file, containing all the official documents of the French justice system: summons, writ of summons to civil party, was handed over to the consulate in Annaba. Their fingerprints were taken and their passports remained there. They hoped, at that time, to still be able to leave.

Omar Laidouni was unable to respond to the summons from the Judicial Court in Reims, the French consulate in Annaba, Algeria, considering that the reasons and documents provided were not reliable. • © DR

“On June 13, I sent an email to the consulate, continues Ahmed Yacine Laidouni, and I was told that the file was still under investigation. Then on the 14th I started again by telling them that we had bought our tickets and specifying our departure date, the 16th.” He will not receive any response.

On June 17, the date the trial began, Omar Laidouni wrote this message to the consulate; “It’s sad. I’m so sad and it hurts. The issue of the explosion of the building in Reims is currently at the center of discussions. In 2013, throughout France, the channels relayed this news. President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed regret for all the victims. Since then, I have been waiting for this trial, and we did not participate in the hearing to ask for compensation and defend my sister. You made me feel weak and disrespected.”

The visa was refused. The information provided to justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay is not reliable.”

French Consulate General in Annaba, Algeria

In addition to the expenses generated, almost 800 euros: visa applications, plane tickets not fully reimbursed like hotel reservations, Omar Laidouni sees it as an offense. And he does not even imagine yet what the consulate’s response will be since it only arrives on July 10.

The letter says this: “The Consulate General of France in Annaba has examined your visa application. The visa has been refused. This decision is based on the following grounds: the information provided to justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay is not reliable.”

It is specified that in the event of refusal, it is possible to contest the decision. Which is what Ahmed Yacine Laidouni did by asking to attend, with his father, the deliberations of the trial on August 27. A request that remained a dead letter. “It was important for my father. His sister deserved to be defended. Unfortunately, we were unable to do anything. Today, I am asking the French consulate to reimburse me for the costs incurred. And for my father, what a disappointment. He, who is 17, arrived in France and worked as a welder in a company in Lyon for 15 years.”

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted responded: “I am coming back to you regarding your request regarding a refusal of a visa to Mr. Omar Laidouni. Generally speaking, it is not up to us to comment on individual situations.”

Is the diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, which has been going on for several months, the reason for these visa refusals? Or has the French consulate in Annaba simply not done its job?

These decisions leave, in any case, a bitter taste and unfinished mourning for the family of Rachida Laidouni, who died in the explosion at 8 allée Beethoven in Reims on May 28, 2013.