• An Algerian woman, Dahbia Benkired, sentenced to life without parole for murdering schoolgirl Lola Daviet in Paris.
• This marks the first time a woman in France receives an "irreducible life sentence."
• The case has sparked significant anti-immigration sentiment due to Benkired's immigration status.
• The prosecution described the crime as involving "extreme cruelty" and "true torture."
• The victim's family expressed relief over the verdict, while politicians are debating immigration enforcement.

A French court on October 24 sentenced Dahbia Benkired to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet in 2022. Benkired is now the first woman in France to receive this maximum punishment, a decision reached after a trial that highlighted the horrific details of the crime, which included rape, torture, and suffocation of the young girl, according to Le Monde and BBC.

During the proceedings, prosecutors characterized the crime as showing "extreme gravity," citing the extraordinary cruelty involved and the profound suffering inflicted on Daviet's family. In a statement, the presiding judge affirmed that the sentence reflects the "unspeakable psychological damage" caused by the acts, which he described as "true torture" and "total dehumanisation," according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

The case has fueled a national debate on immigration, as Benkired, who overstayed her student visa, did not have the right to be in France. Conservative politicians have seized upon the case, with figures like Marine Le Pen advocating for stricter immigration laws, including calls for the "systematic expulsion" of foreign criminals, as stated by South China Morning Post and BBC. Meanwhile, Lola's mother has urged the public not to exploit her daughter's tragic death for political gain, emphasizing the need for respect for the family's grief, according to Le Monde and South China Morning Post.