France commemorates Samuel Paty six years after assassination

Six years after the assassination of history teacher Samuel Paty, his sister, Mickaëlle Paty, has criticized the French National Education system for a perceived lack of accountability and failure to address root causes. Speaking on the anniversary, she accused the institution of a “pas de vague” (wave-passing) policy, suggesting that authorities attempt to move past incidents involving attacked or threatened teachers rather than performing necessary retrospection.

Mickaëlle Paty, who filed legal action in July 2024 to establish state responsibility for the murder, warned that failing to learn from the tragedy leaves other educators vulnerable. The 2020 killing of Paty by a radicalized Islamist followed a campaign of hate sparked by classroom discussions on secularism and caricatures.

Commemorative events were held across various regions in France, including Amiens Métropole and the Normandy Academy, where students and officials observed moments of silence. In Marseille, students attended film screenings designed to raise awareness regarding secularism and freedom of expression.