PARIS — On Friday, France’s anti-terrorism court found eight individuals guilty in connection with the brutal beheading of Samuel Paty, a teacher, outside his school near Paris four years ago, an incident that horrified the nation.
Paty, 47, was murdered on October 16, 2020, shortly after he showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his students as part of a lesson on free expression. The attacker, an 18-year-old of Chechen descent from Russia, was subsequently killed by police at the scene.
The trial, which began in late November, centered around various charges of terrorism against the defendants. They were accused of different roles, from providing help to the assailant to orchestrating an online hate campaign leading up to the murder.
The courtroom, which holds 540 seats, was filled to capacity as the judge read out the verdicts, marking the conclusion of the Paty trial. Emotions ran high among the families of the accused, triggering reactions such as gasps and shouts, alongside some ironic applause that forced the judge to momentarily pause to restore order.
A family member of one defendant shouted, “They lied about my brother,” while another person lamented, “They took my baby from me,” before being escorted away by authorities. The tense atmosphere necessitated heavy police presence, with over 50 officers on duty to maintain order.
The prosecution sought sentences between 18 months suspended imprisonment to 16 years for the defendants. Among those charged were associates of Abdoullakh Anzorov, the perpetrator, accused of aiding in weapon purchases, as well as the father of a student whose misinformation sparked the chain of events that led to Paty’s death.
The national anti-terrorism prosecutor suggested lowering the charges for four defendants, which sparked outrage from Paty’s family. “It’s more than a disappointment,” said Paty’s sister, Mickaëlle. “In moments like this, it feels futile to fight for justice.”
The charges of complicity were downgraded for two young men who were accused of logistics support for the crime, with sentences recommended at 14 years for Naïm Boudaoud and 16 years for Azim Epsirkhanov.
The backdrop to Paty’s murder included protests in several Muslim nations and online calls for violence against France, especially following a recent publication of caricatures by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that had previously been targeted in Islamic extremist attacks.
These caricatures deeply offended many Muslims, perceived as blasphemous. Nevertheless, the consequences of Paty’s death further solidified France’s dedication to freedom of expression and its staunch secularism.
Paty’s legacy has heavily influenced the educational landscape in France, with several schools now honoring his name. A significant focus of the trial was on Brahim Chnina, the father of a teenager who falsely claimed that she was excluded from Paty’s class during the controversial lesson.
Chnina relayed to his contacts a series of messages denouncing Paty, referring to him as “this sick man” and sharing the school’s address in Conflans Saint-Honorine. His daughter had never attended that specific class, despite his assertions.
Paty was conducting a lesson required by the Ministry of National Education regarding free expression and made it clear that students could leave the room if they were uncomfortable with the cartoons.
An online campaign escalated against Paty, culminating in Anzorov attacking him with a knife shortly after the lesson. The assailant then shared images of Paty’s severed head on social media before being confronted and killed by police.
Chnina faced accusations of association with a terrorist enterprise for his role in inciting hatred towards Paty based on falsehoods, with a 10-year prison sentence being sought against him.
Chnina’s daughter was previously tried in juvenile court and given an 18-month suspended sentence for her involvement, while four other students received suspended sentences for their roles, with one being sentenced to six months under electronic surveillance for identifying Paty to Anzorov for payment.
Another critical figure in the trial was Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who had misrepresented himself as a spokesperson for imams. He recorded a video denouncing Paty alongside Chnina, and the prosecution asked for a 12-year sentence for him, citing his inflammatory remarks.
As the trial concluded, some defendants expressed regret and maintained their innocence, a stance that did not resonate with Paty’s family.
“It’s quite distressing for the family,” commented lawyer Virginie Le Roy. “There’s a palpable unwillingness among the defendants to accept responsibility. While apologies are meaningless in the absence of Samuel, we seek clarity on the events that transpired. Regrettably, our inquiries have largely gone unanswered.”
