A history and geography teacher in the urban area of Montbéliard (Doubs) accused one of his 13-year-old students of having threatened to kill him, after showing Charlie Hebdo caricatures in class at the beginning of January. While a complaint was filed, the Minister of Education, Élisabeth Borne, sent her “support” to the professor on Tuesday evening. We take stock of the latest known information.
What happened?
The facts date back to January 8. The day after the national tribute paid to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, a history and geography teacher from the Montbéliard metropolitan area presented several religious caricatures from the satirical newspaper to his 4th grade students. A student in the class did not appreciate the caricatures. The civics course, however, took place “normally”, according to the prosecution.
A week later, the schoolgirl waits until the end of class to speak to the teacher. “She tells him that a high school student is going to come and kill him, without specifying who she is talking about, or which high school, and refers to the caricatures that their teacher presented in the civics class,” reports the prosecutor. Worried, the teacher filed a complaint and the school also took legal action.
A procedure was opened for “threat of death against a teacher” and the schoolgirl was questioned in police custody. “She immediately admitted having made these comments, but she assured that it was a bad joke that she bitterly regretted,” said prosecutor Paul-Édouard Lallois.
What reaction?
This Tuesday evening, the Minister of National Education, Élisabeth Borne sent her “support” to the professor on X. “The situation was immediately taken into account,” she assured.
-In detail, “an article 40 was sent to the prosecutor”, “functional protection” was granted and a “precautionary measure was taken against the author”. A “disciplinary council” has also been scheduled, she said. “No threats against teachers, no challenges to freedom of expression will be tolerated! », insisted the minister.
What consequences?
Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure mentioned by the minister specifies that “any constituted authority” “acquires knowledge of a crime or misdemeanor is required to give notice without delay to the public prosecutor”. He must “transmit to this magistrate all information, minutes and acts relating thereto”.
Clearly, this article is based on cooperation between the judicial authorities and the police. It aims to ensure that information relating to criminal offenses is quickly transmitted to the public prosecutor. Then, the latter is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases. Article 40 aims to prevent any attempt to conceal offenses and to ensure transparency in the judicial process.
Furthermore, “functional protection” was granted to the professor. The measure is intended for any public official in the event of an attack or threat. It can also extend to family members if they themselves are victims of attacks. The measure can result in physical protection of the person or their family. Other means can also be put in place: change of telephone number, change of assignment, legal assistance, coverage of procedural costs, etc.
