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. Samuel Paty’s father, Jean, should have intervened if “a bad fall” had not prevented him from joining the court.
>> Also review the details from 12:45 p.m. on the Paty trial:
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. “He was a serious, intelligent student. Respectful. My husband had him in class in CM1 and CM2 and he called him master,” remembers Bernadette Paty.
“An intellectual, not a believer”
“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 insists.
In the box, the accused followed the testimony of Samuel Paty’s mother attentively, without looking away or lowering their heads.
Losing our son because he showed drawings disgusts us. Our life since that day has become a big void
“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,” underlines 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.”
Teachers from Arras present
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 .
Samuel was assassinated by a radicalized Islamist seeking jihad. It is Islamism that is in question and not caricatures
“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. It is Islamism which is in question and not caricatures”, maintains Mickaëlle Paty in a firm voice. “You gave my brother up to pasture,” she says to the accused.
Gaëlle Paty also chooses to address them directly.
“I will never accept the slightest excuse from people who do not recognize their responsibility (…) I ask for respect and decency in this trial. I would like to tell the accused that without you, Samuel would be here today , he would be alive. Everyone at your level could have stopped this fatal spiral and saved the life of a father, a brother, a teacher,” she asserts.
“When I hear that almost all of the accused contest the facts with which they are accused – only one has admitted responsibility, editor’s note – I am angry,” said Gaëlle Paty. “It’s indecent.”
The trial is scheduled until December 20.
>> Details from Raphaël Grand in the 12:45 p.m.:
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