Overview

• A criminal complaint has been filed with the Perpignan prosecutor’s office, alleging 'recel de cadavre' and 'violation de sépulture' related to the remains of Harkis who died at Camp Joffre between 1962 and 1965.
• Excavations in late 2024 revealed empty graves at the camp, where at least 146 individuals, including 101 children, died during their internment.
• In February 2025, Minister Patricia Miralles confirmed that the remains were relocated to the Saint-Saturnin cemetery in 1986 without informing the families.
• Four boxes containing thousands of bones, including remains of four adults and approximately fifty children, were found in the communal cemetery, raising questions about the relocation process.
• The plaintiffs argue that the crimes are not time-barred due to the ongoing concealment and lack of disclosure, demanding accountability and restitution from French authorities.