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Eight Convicted in France for Roles in Samuel Paty's 2020 Beheading, Sentences Up to 16 Years for Hate Campaign Involvement

Dec 20, 2024, 09:43 PM

A French anti-terrorism court has convicted eight individuals for their roles in the 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, who was murdered after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad during a class on free speech. The court delivered sentences ranging from one year to 16 years in prison, with the harshest penalties imposed on two accomplices, Naïm Boudaoud and Azim Epsirkhanov, who received 16 years for their complicity in the assassination. The verdicts were announced following a trial that lasted seven weeks, highlighting the involvement of those accused in a hate campaign against Paty that ultimately led to his death. The case has drawn significant attention in France, reflecting ongoing concerns about terrorism and freedom of expression.