The father of a French student, whose testimony regarding the use of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a free speech lesson contributed to the gruesome murder of a teacher, is now facing trial on charges of associating with a terrorist network.
This chilling sequence of events unfolded in 2020 when Samuel Paty, aged 47, introduced his class to the caricatures. In retaliation, an 18-year-old assailant from Chechnya brutally attacked him outside his school located in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of Paris—stabbing him multiple times and ultimately decapitating him.
Shortly before this horrific act, Brahim Chnina, the father of one of Paty’s students, took to social media to release a series of videos. In these clips, he made unfounded claims against Paty, suggesting he had punished his daughter for speaking out against the lesson, while also revealing Paty’s identity and the school’s name.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Chnina collaborated with Abdelhakim Sefrioui, an individual who has been linked to an extremist Islamist organization, in a scheme to provoke animosity toward the teacher.
“They essentially placed a target on the teacher’s back,” asserted Thibault de Montbrial, who serves as legal counsel for Mr. Paty’s sister, Mickaelle Paty. “The public accusations and the videos that disseminated attacks against this educator culminated in the horrific act of beheading Samuel Paty.”
As journalists gathered outside the trial, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation regarding how the accused would navigate the evidence presented against them.
“It will be fascinating to see how they can trace the chain of events from A to Z and then claim they bear no responsibility for the resulting tragedy,” de Montbrial added.
Both Mr. Chnina and Mr. Sefrioui stand accused of participating in activities linked to a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Chnina’s legal representative opted to refrain from commenting as the trial commenced.
In stark contrast, Mr. Sefrioui’s attorney, Ouadie Elhamamouchi, argued vehemently that there’s no evidence to suggest any connection between Sefrioui and the man responsible for the murder, who was swiftly killed by law enforcement officers. “Mr. Sefrioui will demonstrate to the court that he has absolutely no ties to this vile act, which he has condemned since the outset,” declared Elhamamouchi.
The trial includes six additional co-defendants in Paris alongside Chnina and Sefrioui, two of whom were alleged associates of the murderer, Abdullakh Anzorov. Prosecutors claim that these individuals were aware of Anzorov’s deadly intentions and assisted him in procuring weapons. They too face charges of complicity in an act of terrorism, yet French media reports indicate both have firmly denied any wrongdoing.
Last year, a court found Chnina’s daughter, along with five other teenagers, guilty of participating in a premeditated criminal conspiracy and aiding in the orchestrating of an ambush. Ironically, Chnina’s daughter was not even present in Paty’s class when the controversial caricatures were displayed. The court concluded she had made false accusations and engaged in defamation.
According to French media, the young girl alleged wrongdoing on Paty’s part when her parents questioned her about a two-day suspension from school.
As this trial unfolds, it’s set to continue through December. Teachers from Paty’s school are observing the proceedings closely, as noted by Antoine Casubolo Ferro, who represents 14 of Paty’s colleagues.
“They anticipate that the Republic and the justice system will send a firm message: don’t threaten educators, and don’t encroach on freedom of expression,” Ferro emphasized to members of the press.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
