Mickaëlle Paty, sister of Samuel Paty, reacted on RTL radio this Friday to the conviction of the father who threatened to "cut off the head" of a primary school teacher in Le Fauga, near Toulouse. The 47-year-old man was sentenced on Thursday to six months in prison with immediate incarceration, a harsher sentence than the prosecution's request for six months under house arrest with an electronic tag. For Mickaëlle Paty, the verdict is "a decision commensurate with the crime . "
The case came to light after beheading threats were made against a teacher at the Clément-Ader school on Friday, September 4th. Deeply traumatized, the teacher was placed on sick leave for a month and granted official protection.
"A decision that reflects the gravity of the situation"
Mickaëlle Paty approved of the firmness of the Toulouse criminal court. The sister of the history and geography teacher murdered in October 2020 particularly emphasized the judges' decision not to grant the prosecution's request for a reduced sentence. "I welcome a sentence that reflects the gravity of the crime, especially since the judges went beyond the prosecution's request, which had only asked for six months with an electronic tag ," she declared on Friday.
The father was ultimately sentenced to six months in prison and immediately incarcerated . A warrant for his arrest was issued at the hearing on Thursday, September 10th. The man was then taken directly from the courthouse to prison.
"I'm going to cut your head off!"
The events date back to Friday, September 4th, just a few days after the start of the school year. The defendant's son, a fifth-grade student, had been disciplined for his behavior. He had been moved to another class to calm down.
After school, her father confronted the teacher in the parking lot of the Clément-Ader school complex. During the altercation, he notably shouted at her, "I'm going to cut your head off!" The threats then continued inside the school, particularly in front of the principal.
At the hearing, the defendant admitted to the facts and apologized. He claimed he hadn't realized the seriousness of his words and didn't understand his own behavior that day. The presiding judge described the remarks as "extremely disturbing" and "highly violent," noting their particular resonance in light of the assassination of Samuel Paty.
Mickaëlle Paty: "The beheading of a teacher is possible"
For Mickaëlle Paty, this conviction also represents a signal long awaited by staff in the national education system. "It's a relief, but I would say that it has been a very long process to obtain a form of protection that teachers have been demanding for a long time. Following the attack on my brother, we know that the beheading of a teacher is possible. I haven't seen a real awakening of awareness ," she declared.
Samuel Paty was murdered and beheaded on October 16, 2020, in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine by Abdoullakh Anzorov, following a hate campaign launched against the teacher after his lesson on freedom of expression. Several people involved in this campaign or in planning the crime have since been convicted, notably during the appeal trial for Samuel Paty's murder.
Three-year ban around the school
In addition to the six-month prison sentence, the father was given several additional measures. He is prohibited for three years from contacting the teacher and from appearing on school premises or on the street bordering the school. He must also complete a citizenship course within the timeframe stipulated in the judgment.
The Ministry of Education has simultaneously begun implementing a decree published this summer allowing for the transfer of a student to another school when the behavior of a family member poses a significant risk to a member of the school community. Édouard Geffray announced on Thursday that this new measure would be used in the Fauga case. The convicted man's son must therefore leave his school and continue his education at another school, with enhanced support.
