France, death of Albanian in prison sparks suspicion

Mentor Raja's relatives, his sister, Samantha Rex, have been contacted by Top Channel journalist Ariglon Pauli, say they have not been reported on the official route to the death of 36 years old, but by others.

The announcement was made in a week's delay. French authorities say Rexha has committed suicide on 31 January, but family members have strong doubts that he was mistreated by prison guards.

The pictures show hematoma in the body and wounds in the head. The young man's sister says that it was only recently allowed to be seen in the morgue. “Initially I was asked to sign a letter without looking at the body, but I refused to accept”, she says. Only after he went to the morgue himself has he discovered the signs of violence.

The body has not yet returned to Albania, while relatives appeal for assistance because the Albanian Embassy in France has indicated that there is no funds to assist.

Mentor Rexha, born in Lezha and living in Shkodra, had travelled to France a year earlier as an immigrant and applied for asylum status procedures.

But, meanwhile, he has ended up in prison together with two other Albanians for burning several vehicles, while the sister says that in the communications they had, Rexha has always claimed innocence.

Not believing the French authorities' version, relatives have even taken pictures of the body showing a sign of rope to the throat but also a hole in the head as well as signs on the body that make them doubt that the truth is nothing like it is.

The event recalls the sad episode of two years ago, when Florence Beqiray died in a prison in France, while he was also awaiting asylum.