Verdicts in the cases of eight individuals accused of aiding an Islamic extremist in the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty are set to be delivered on Friday, over four years since the tragic incident occurred outside his school. Paty was killed near Paris on Oct. 16, 2020, after showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his class during a discussion on freedom of expression. The attacker, an 18-year-old Russian of Chechen descent, was fatally shot by police. The defendants, standing trial on terrorism charges in a special court in Paris since November, are alleged to have facilitated the perpetrator or orchestrated an online hate campaign leading up to the murder.
The shocking death of Paty, a 47-year-old teacher, had a profound impact on France, with several schools now named in his memory. Prosecutors have requested sentences ranging from 18 months of suspended imprisonment to 16 years in prison for the accused, including friends of the assailant who reportedly assisted in acquiring weapons for the attack and the father of a student whose false claims triggered a chain of events culminating in the tragedy. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor has proposed downgrading charges against four defendants, sparking criticism from Paty’s family.
The trial also brought attention to the role of Brahim Chnina, a Muslim father who wrongly believed his daughter was excluded from Paty’s class when the controversial cartoons were shown. Chnina sent messages denouncing Paty, fueling an online campaign against the teacher. The heartbreaking outcome saw Anzorov fatally assaulting Paty with a knife and posting the gruesome act on social media.
The attack occurred amidst protests in various Muslim nations and online calls for violence against France and the magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had republished caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad ahead of the trial for the 2015 terrorist attacks on its offices. While the cartoons sparked outrage among many Muslims, Paty’s tragic death underscored France’s commitment to freedom of expression and secularism.
The trial has shed light on the devastating consequences of misinformation and incitement, with Chnina facing charges for associating with a terrorist group due to spreading false information that contributed to the attack on Paty. The public prosecutor has requested a 10-year prison sentence for his role in the tragic events.
His daughter underwent a trial in a juvenile court last year and was handed an 18-month suspended sentence. At the same time, four other students from Paty’s school were found guilty of being involved and also received suspended sentences. Another student, who betrayed Paty to Anzorov in exchange for money, was sentenced to a six-month term while being monitored with an electronic bracelet. Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who claimed to be a representative for the Imams of France despite being removed from that position, played a significant role in the proceedings. He recorded a video in front of the school alongside the student’s father, repeatedly referring to the teacher as a “thug” and attempting to pressure the school administration through social media channels. Prosecutors are seeking a 12-year sentence for him.
As the verdict neared, some of the defendants expressed remorse and maintained their innocence. However, their statements failed to sway Paty’s family. Virginie Le Roy, the family’s lawyer, expressed disappointment, stating, “It’s something that really shocks the family. You get the feeling that those in the box are absolutely unwilling to admit any responsibility whatsoever. Apologies are pointless, they won’t bring Samuel back, but explanations are precious to us. But, unfortunately I have to make a more than mixed assessment. We haven’t had many explanations of the facts.”
