This November 26, the crowd gathers at the gates of the Palais de Justice on the Ile de la Cité. In the major trial room, where the trial of the Éragny-sur-Oise attack which cost the life of Samuel Paty has been taking place for more than three weeks, the benches are almost all occupied. The bell rings, the chatter stops and Zohra*, a young girl now aged 17, arrives at the bar. A student at the Bois d'Aulne college, aged 13 at the time of the events, it was she who launched the controversy over Samuel Paty's course. Although absent on the day of the lesson on freedom of expression, she falsely claims to her father that her history and geography teacher discriminated against Muslim students and showed a ” photo of a naked man » (in reference to a caricature of Charlie Hebdo). A lie repeated several times, recovered by adults, which will lead to the beheading of Samuel Paty. Tried a year ago by the children's court, Zohra was sentenced to 18 months in prison with suspended probation for slanderous denunciation.
The cycle of lies
Pleated skirt, white shirt, bow in her hair… In front of the judges, Zohra displays the image of a wise and tidy young girl. But four years ago, she herself admits, she was more like “ perturbatrice “. Difficult behavior which earned him several hours of detention and even a two-day exclusion from his college. A situation that her parents, according to the teenager's words, seem to be unaware of. “ I hid my notebook from them so they wouldn't see my bullshit » she explains to the court in a low voice. On October 5, 2020, during a course given by Samuel Paty, Zohra was noticed again. The teacher announces that he will give a lesson the next day on “ To be or not to be Charlie? » and that it will show caricatures. As Mickaëlle Paty recalls in her book Mr. Paty's course« he warns that those who do not wish to see these images will be able to look away “. The young girl becomes agitated, interrupts her teacher and is excluded from class. The next day, with her mother's consent, Zohra, unwell, does not go to class. She therefore does not attend Samuel Paty's course on freedom of expression and therefore does not see the caricatures. On Wednesday October 7, without any link with Samuel Paty, the director of the college announced to Zohra's parents the exclusion of their daughter for two days for her harmful behavior. It was then that the teenager, “ under the influence of panic »reported to her parents that she had been discriminated against by Mr. Paty and that he had shown her caricatures of naked Mohammed. The cycle of lies has started. In the process, this slander is picked up by adults. His father, Brahim Chnina, sends messages to his contacts, publishes the affair on his social networks, gives the name of the college and the incriminated professor, meets A. Sefrioui, is contacted by the terrorist…
Insolence and amnesia
« I didn't want to disappoint my parents » she justifies herself today before the judges to explain her lie. On several occasions, during these terrible days of October 2020, the young girl was questioned many times about her lie, but she never retracted it. In front of the director, in front of the police who registered her complaint, in front of a psychologist, with her friends or family… Zohra tirelessly repeats the same dangerous fable. “ I was too caught up in my lie, I couldn't handle it anymore… » she repeats, her eyes downcast. It was not until November 18, after thirty hours in police custody, that she finally admitted having lied from the start.
On the stand, the teenager says she is sorry. She, who had not apologized during her trial a year ago, finally changed her attitude. Taking a breath, she begins, with tears in her eyes: “ I would like to apologize to the family. I destroyed your life. I know my apology is hard to hear but I really wanted to apologize sincerely. […] Without my lie, no one would be here “. And she assures: “ From my custody, I only tell the truth ».
But on the side of the civil parties, some doubt the sincerity of the young girl. Maître Le Roy, counsel for Samuel Paty’s parents, underlines this by pointing out the “ times-face » of the young girl. A year ago, while in the dock, Zohra pleaded for his release, accusing his father. Today, while Brahim Chnina is in the dock, she declares: “ if a person should be condemned, it is not the people in the box but me “. Another lawyer for the civil party accuses the young girl of “ contradict “. Yet another denounces Zohra’s new line which would be “ totally different from that adopted in the juvenile court “. A last one points out the inconsistencies between his testimony at the bar and the hearings of other witnesses. Added to this are the teenager's numerous memory lapses. To questions that could put her father in a bad position, she replies that she “does not remember more ». « Well, you're going to make an effort! » then says Maître Szpiner, lawyer for the former partner and the son of Samuel Paty, at the end of his patience. In vain. Fidgeting with her hands, Zohra repeats that she doesn't remember.
The atmosphere then becomes tense in the courtroom. The defense lawyers are agitated, insulting their colleagues. And Zohra ends up being insolent. To Master Szpiner who questions her about the reason why she had mentioned to her father the participation of Samuel Paty in the march for Charlie Hebdoshe declares in a dry tone: “ You can let me finish! », triggering a wave of astonishment in the room. An insolence that we find in his responses to Maitre de Montbrial, lawyer for Mickaëlle Paty, who summed up: “ You have the manner of responding like someone who is used to courtrooms “. It must be said that Zohra's hearing seems much more strategic – prepared to clear her father, the lawyers for the civil parties will say as they leave the room – than spontaneous. The president ends up requesting a suspension of the hearing. And in the room of major trials which is gradually emptying, one of the prosecutor's advice to Zohra still resonates: “ Today, this hearing may be the time to tell the truth “. Did she follow him? Hard to say. Some in the public doubt it. The young girl leaves the room, supported by her lawyer, her gaze downcast.
*The first name has been changed
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