Fourteen members of the "Barbarians," a self-styled Paris gang, will be retried for their role in the brutal murder of a Jewish man, according to French officials, following complaints that their sentences were too light.

The announcement followed a statement by French Justice Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie earlier Monday that the sentences handed down to some gang members were “too lenient”.

Alliot-Marie was responding to Friday’s sentencing of members of the self-styled “Barbarians” gang who kidnapped, tortured and killed Ilan Halimi, a Jewish mobile phone salesman, in 2006. The details of the attack were particularly horrifying and sparked a public debate on hate crimes in France.

On Friday, a French court sentenced gang leader Youssouf Fofana to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 22 years. Fofana, who admitted killing Halimi at the end of the 24-day ordeal, mimicked applause as the sentence was announced Friday.

The court handed lower sentences to 26 accomplices, including nine years for the young woman who lured Halimi into the gang's trap. Prosecutors had asked that she be given a 12-year sentence.

Fofana’s principal accomplices were handed sentences of 15 and 18 years.

Angry response to the sentences

The sentences drew an angry response from Jewish groups as well as members of the victim’s family.

Their sentences were light compared to Ilan's suffering Yaël Halimi, sister of victim

“We know what torture he endured over three weeks and it is obvious that the sentences were too short,” she said. “We hope that a new trial will be convened and that the whole business will be judged much more severely.”

Hundreds of demonstrators, some carrying white flowers, French flags and portraits of Halimi, gathered on Monday night outside the justice ministry in Paris shouting "Justice for Ilan" and "Bravo Madame Alliot-Marie."

Honey trap

Mobile phone salesman Halimi disappeared in 2006 after going on a date with a girl he had met at his workplace.

But the girl, 17 at the time, was a “honey trap” sent by Fofana to lure Halimi to his doom.

She led him to an empty apartment where he was set upon by Fofana and his accomplices.

Halimi endured 24 days of brutal torture while the gang tried to extort a ransom of 450,000 euros from his family.

When it became evident the family could not pay, Fofana doused Halimi in alcohol, stabbed him, set him alight and dumped his naked body by a railway track.

Halimi died on his way to hospital.