France holds trial over the beheading of a teacher who showed prophet cartoons to his class
NBCNov 04, 2024
The attack occurred after Paty showed caricatures of Prophet Muhammad during a class on freedom of expression, where he allowed students who might be offended to look away.Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old history teacher, was beheaded outside his school near Paris on October 16, 2020, by 18-year-old Abdoullakh Anzorov, who was later killed by police.
A 13-year-old student falsely claimed she was expelled from class for opposing Paty, though she wasn't present during the lesson, triggering her father's social media campaign against the teacher.The attack occurred after Paty showed caricatures of Prophet Muhammad during a class on freedom of expression, where he allowed students who might be offended to look away.
Eight defendants face various charges, including terrorist conspiracy and complicity in murder, with potential sentences ranging from 30 years to life imprisonment.A 13-year-old student falsely claimed she was expelled from class for opposing Paty, though she wasn't present during the lesson, triggering her father's social media campaign against the teacher.
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The incident exemplifies how social media can amplify misunderstandings and transform personal grievances into dangerous hate campaigns, leading to tragic consequences when religious sensitivities clash with educational practices.