Paris on High Alert as Trial Opens for Teacher’s Beheading Over Prophet Cartoons

The trial of eight people over the 2020 beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty began in Paris, surrounded by high security. Paty was murdered by Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old extremist, after showing his class caricatures of Islam’s prophet during a lesson on freedom of expression. The defendants face charges ranging from terrorism to incitement, as some allegedly provided weapons or spread misinformation about Paty’s actions. Key figures include Brahim Chnina, a parent who falsely claimed his daughter was excluded for not watching the cartoons, and Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who promoted anti-Paty messages online. The case underscores France’s complex debate on secularism and free speech, with the government reaffirming its commitment to these principles in the wake of Paty’s tragic death.

Source: AP News