at the Samuel Paty trial, the family of the murdered professor testifies

The family of the history professor killed by a young radical Islamist has painted a moving and dignified portrait in the face of the eight accused involved in his assassination.

“Losing a child in such conditions is unbearable and unacceptable.” In a packed courtroom, Bernadette Paty, the mother of the history professor murdered by a young radical Islamist, painted a moving and dignified portrait of her son on Friday, without trembling in the face of the eight accused involved in his assassination.

Very small in the impressive “grand trials” room of the Paris courthouse, Bernadette Paty, in a twisted white vest, pink scarf around her neck, was the first of the family to speak.

On the bench reserved for the family there is a child, Gabriel, 9 and a half years old, the son of Samuel Paty, accompanied by his mother Jeanne A., the professor's ex-partner. Samuel Paty's two sisters, Mickaëlle and Gaëlle, supported by their loved ones, are also present as they have been every day since the trial opened on November 4.

Bernadette Paty, 77 years old, a former teacher with short hair and thin glasses, evokes a Samuel Paty who was passionate about History since his early childhood.

“Samuel was an intellectual. He was not a believer, my husband and I are not believers, but he was very respectful of all religions,” she explains.

“What happened to him is so barbaric”

In the box, the accused followed the testimony of Samuel Paty's mother attentively, without looking away or lowering their heads.

“I knew that Samuel was going to show these Charlie Hebdo caricatures during a course on freedom of expression. He was on vacation with us in August (2020) when he prepared his course,” continues Bernadette Paty. This detail, “completely forgotten”, she said with a sad smile, only came back to her at the time of the tragedy.

“Losing a child in such conditions is unbearable and unacceptable. Losing our son because he showed drawings repulses us. Our life since that day has become a great void,” explains Bernadette Paty.

“What happened to him is so barbaric and unjust that we will never be able to mourn. I expect from this trial that the responsibility of each accused will be recognized and that the sentences will be appropriate,” she insists. , still without trembling.

“I am happy to be retired, because today, teachers are challenged. I don’t understand,” she laments again, in response to a question from the court. “Today, we contest, we threaten and we attack.”

“Truth and justice”

Teachers from the Gambetta-Carnot school complex in Arras where, three years after Samuel Paty, professor Dominique Bernard was assassinated by a young Russian radical Islamist of Ingush origin, are present in the courtroom.

“The injury we received (the day of Samuel Paty’s death) is very real. It’s a vision that has forever changed our vision of life,” explains Jeanne A., a teacher like her ex-companion .

“The injustice that happened to Samuel forces us to walk on a tightrope,” she adds before demanding “truth and justice.”

“Samuel was not assassinated for having shown caricatures and having committed blasphemy which has no legal value. Samuel was assassinated by a radicalized Islamist in search of jihad (…) on the basis of “a campaign of infamy on the internet led by Islamists demanding nothing more, nothing less, for his head. It is Islamism that is at issue and not caricatures, nor freedom of expression and even less secularism”, maintains Mickaëlle. Paty.

The trial is scheduled to last until December 20

Gaëlle Paty chooses to address the accused directly. “Launching a virulent cabal targeting my brother by name and inciting action, promoting this cabal on social networks and encouraging acts (…) constitute serious responsibilities,” she told them.

“It’s not enough to not get your hands dirty so as not to be responsible for my brother’s death,” she adds.

“I will never accept the slightest excuse from people who do not recognize their responsibility. It is totally indecent (…) Without you, Samuel would be alive today,” underlines Gaëlle Paty.

The last of the eight accused to be questioned at the end of the first week of the trial, Yusuf Cinar, a close friend of the assassin, seems not to have heard her. “I dispute the facts. I have been innocent for four years (…) I don't like the label that is given to me. I am not a terrorist,” he said. The trial is scheduled until December 20.