Accomplices of student who beheaded Samuel Paty get 16 years in prison

Conflans-Sainte-Honorine: A French court has handed down 16-year sentences to two friends of the jihadist who murdered Samuel Paty, a history teacher. This shocking case has left many in France horrified.

The two men, Naim Boudaoud and Azim Epsirkhanov, were found guilty of helping the killer, who brutally attacked Mr. Paty in October 2020. Prosecutors had wanted life sentences, but the court decided on 16 years instead.

Mr. Paty was killed after showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed during a class discussion on freedom of expression. His attacker, an 18-year-old named Abdoullakh Anzorov, was shot by police shortly after the murder.

It turns out that Anzorov had sent a message to a contact in Syria right after the attack, boasting about what he had done. The friends were accused of helping him buy weapons and providing other support.

Prosecutor Marine Valentin pointed out that they knew about Anzorov’s extremist beliefs when they assisted him. The case has sparked a lot of discussions about the safety of teachers in France.

Two other men involved in the online campaign against Mr. Paty received sentences as well. They were accused of inciting hatred against him, which ultimately led to the tragic events.

Mr. Paty’s sister expressed her frustration with the sentences, feeling they were too lenient. She believes that teachers are still at risk and that not enough has changed since her brother’s death.

In the classroom, Mr. Paty had used the controversial cartoons to teach about ethics and freedom of expression, a topic that remains sensitive in France.

After the murder, Anzorov had claimed he was acting in the name of jihad, sending a photo of his victim’s head to a contact in Syria. This chilling detail has only added to the outrage surrounding the case.

While the court has delivered its verdict, the broader issues of radicalization and the safety of educators continue to loom large in French society.