Books with caricatures of Muhammad will be distributed to students in France
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A total of seven people, including high school students, will be tried for the murder of a teacher. Nine people were released from custody without charge.
Among those likely to be indicted is Brahim C., the father of one of the students . Investigators estimate that he probably issued a “fatwa” on the teacher, a religious edict binding Muslims, which may have prompted Azanov to murder.
Investigators carefully examine messages exchanged before the murder via WhatsApp between the parent and the killer, the AFP agency previously reported.
Islamist activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui, a close friend of Brahim C. and three acquaintances of an 18-year-old Chechen born in Moscow, who committed this brutal murder, will also face trial. One of them is suspected of bringing the killer to the scene of the crime, the other is suspected of accompanying him when buying a gun.
Anzorov murdered Paty in broad daylight, outside his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. The victim with the decapitated head was found about 200 meters from the school building. During the police action, the murder perpetrator was shot and the prosecution launched an investigation into “terrorist homicide”.
In October Paty showed the students caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in classes devoted to freedom of speech. This angered many Muslim parents. Muslims consider any portrayal of Muhammad to be blasphemy.
On Wednesday evening in the courtyard of the Paris Sorbonne took place national tribute to Samuel Paty.
400 guests attended the ceremony including President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Jean Castex, President of the Senate and the National Assembly, members of the government and the family of the murdered. Parisians could also watch the broadcast of the ceremony on large screens located in various parts of the city, incl. under the Pantheon.
The ceremony began with the carrying of Paty’s coffin to the Sorbonne courtyard to the sound of U2’s song “One”.
The first speech devoted to the deceased and his humanistic values was made by a friend of the murdered, Christophe Capuano.
Then Marie Cuirot, the history and geography teacher, read the poem “To Samuel” written in honor of Gauvain Sers, killed by the singer. Dahlia, a 14-year-old student of one of the Parisian high schools, read an excerpt from Albert Camus’s letter to her teacher Louis Germain.
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Celebration at the Sorbonne
/ Francois Mori / POOL / PAP / EPA
Then Macron spoke and addressed a personal message to the family of the deceased, emphasizing with what passion and dedication he carried out his teaching mission. He spoke of the values and spirit of the French Republic, which, as he put it, is shaped every day in French schools by French teachers.
Samuel Paty is a victim of hatred, stupidity, lies – underlined the president, defending freedom of speech, secularism and freedom of education.
We will continue, professor – promised the head of state. He spoke about teaching about controversial and important topics that teachers deal with on a daily basis and about criticism which – as he emphasized – should be a feature of every citizen.
Macron assured that the drawings and caricatures would continue to be published and shown in France . We do not give up (on them) – he pointed out.
We will continue to teach, we will promote secularism Macron added. Long live the Republic, long live France – He said finishing the speech. The orchestra then played “The Marseillaise”.
The president posthumously awarded the murdered person with the National Order of the Legion of Honor in the presence of his family and loved ones without the presence of the media and the public.
The family and relatives did not disclose to the public about the funeral ceremony of the deceased, wishing to keep the place and time of the burial secret from the media.