France teacher beheaded for showing cartoons of Prophet Mohammad during lessons

A 47-year-old middle school history teacher in France was on Friday, October 16, 2020, beheaded in front of his school for showing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad to his pupils during lessons.

Samuel Paty shown to his pupil age 12-14, a controversial caricature of the Prophet Muhammad considered blasphemous by Muslims from Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper as part of an obligatory moral and civil education course.

The teacher is reported to have been beheaded by an 18year old Moscow born identified as Abdoulakh with a large Kitchen knife on Friday afternoon on a street in front of the school where Paty teaches in a residential suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a middle-class neighbourhood with many residents who commute to work in Paris.

An eye witness said, Abdoulakh A, shouted: “Allahu Akbar” meaning “God is Greatest” as he attacked Paty and later posted pictures of the killing on social media.

France Police shot dead Abdoulakh on Friday after killing Mr. Paty close to his school near Paris.

France President Macron on Paty’s murder

Speaking to reporters at the scene of the attack, France President, Emmanuel Macron described the attack as an Islamic terrorist attack adding that his government would act firmly in addressing the issue.

“One of our fellow citizens was assassinated today because he was teaching; he was teaching pupils about freedom of expression,” he said.

“Our compatriot was flagrantly attacked, was the victim of an Islamist terrorist attack,”

Macron said “They won’t win… We will act. Firmly, And quickly. You can count on my determination.”

11 Arrested, thousands took to the street to protest in solidarity with murdered teacher

Meanwhile, the BBC report that eleven (11) persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of the teacher.

“No details have been given about the arrest. Four close relatives of the suspect were detained shortly after the killing. Six more people were held on Saturday, including the father of a pupil at the school and a preacher described by French media as a radical Islamist,” the report further indicated.

According to the report, thousands of France citizens, including the country’s Prime Minister, Mr Jean Castex and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Sunday, October 18, took to the street in solidarity with the beheaded teacher.

“People in the Place de la République in Paris carried the slogan “Je suis enseignant” (I am a teacher), with PM Jean Castex saying: “We are France!,” the report said.

Vous ne nous faites pas peur.
Nous n’avons pas peur.
Vous ne nous diviserez pas.
Nous sommes la France ! pic.twitter.com/GjUQo9AePa

— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) October 18, 2020