Trial opens in France in the beheading of a teacher over prophet cartoons

Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The trial of eight people in Paris on terrorism charges started on Monday over the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty. He was killed in 2020 by an Islamic extremist after showing caricatures of Islam’s prophet to his middle school students for a lesson on freedom of expression. Paty’s shocking death left an imprint on France, and several schools are now named after him. The 18-year-old Chechen who killed him was shot to death by police. Those on trial include friends of the assailant and a father who incited anger against Paty online.