The Samuel Paty case: how Brahim Chnina’s messages preceded the tragedy

The 53-year-old man of Moroccan origin, physically marked by illness and fatigue, is on trial for having massively relayed on social networks the false accusations of his daughter against the history-geography teacher in October 2020. Initially sentenced to 13 years in prison, he is facing a specialized court tasked with re-evaluating his involvement in the hate campaign that preceded the attack in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

The hearing dwelt at length on the contrasting personality of the accused. While witnesses and experts describe a "sociable" and "devoted" profile to the cause of disability, the prosecution has highlighted a past marked by convictions for drugs and violent verbal threats. Questioned about these contradictions, Brahim Chnina acknowledged his faults, attributing them to past outbursts of anger rather than a structured ideology.

The public prosecutor also raised the question of a possible proselytizing drift through his associative commitment. While the prosecution suspects a radical community orientation, the defense has responded by disseminating family photos at the beach, aiming to demonstrate a way of life far from religious rigor. "The goal was not to learn religion," the accused insisted, presenting himself as a family man primarily concerned with the success of his daughters.

The defense strategy now consists of reclassifying the viral videos of the time as mere "words of anger", minimizing the intentional scope of his actions. The court will have to determine whether this digital activism knowingly served as the basis for the terrorist action of Abdoullakh Anzorov. The debates will continue in the coming days with the precise examination of the alleged acts of complicity.