The trial of the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty: a case that will mark history
It is with great emotion that the date of the trial for the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty is announced. From November 12 to December 20, 2024, eight adults accused of being involved in this terrible act will appear before the special assize court in Paris. An affair which deeply shocked France and the whole world.
But this tragedy is not just limited to adults. Indeed, six minors will also be tried in this case. Their trial will be held behind closed doors in the children’s court from the end of November this year. A decision which aims to protect their identity and take into account their particular status as minors.
Among the major defendants, we find the two friends of the attacker Abdoullakh Anzorov, Azim Epsirkhanov and Naïm Boudaoud. They are suspected of having had precise knowledge of Abdoullakh Anzorov’s terrorist project and will answer for complicity in terrorist assassination, the most serious charge against them. These two individuals from Évreux would have accompanied the attacker to purchase weapons, and Naïm Boudaoud would even have driven him to the college where the tragedy took place.
Other accused, such as Brahim Chnina, the father of the student at the origin of the controversy over the lessons given by Samuel Paty, and Abdelhakim Sefrioui, Islamist activist, will be tried for criminal terrorist association. Their responsibility for inciting hatred and violence will be at the heart of the debates during the trial.
At the same time, anti-terrorism magistrates have identified four other adults who will also be tried for criminal terrorist association. Priscilla Mangel, a convert to Islam linked to the killer on Twitter, along with three other men, will play a key role in establishing the truth.
As for minors, their involvement in the affair is just as serious. Five of them will be tried for criminal conspiracy with a view to preparing aggravated violence, thus showing a willingness to participate in the criminal project. Brahim Chnina’s daughter, for her part, will be tried for slanderous denunciation, an act which amplified the controversy surrounding Samuel Paty.
This trial will therefore be an opportunity to shed light on the responsibilities of each person in the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty. It will also provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of radicalization and the dangers they represent for society. More than just a judgment, this trial is an opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Samuel Paty and to defend the values of freedom of expression and living together.