World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Young people share lessons from Samuel Paty murder trial with students
Samuel Paty, a history teacher, was killed near his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, France, on 16 October 2020.
Before his death, a false accusation about a lesson on cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad spread among students and on social media.
In 2025, 200 young people followed the trial of people who helped the attacker and wrote about it in a book called “Génération Paty.
Le procès : les jeunes face à l'histoire.”
Three members of the project, now aged 18 or 19, visited Paty’s former school to speak with current students.
They described the trial and discussed how they understood the attack as an assault on freedom of expression.
The visit also gave younger students a chance to reflect on studying cartoons and on how rumors can grow.
The account does not say what will happen next.
Young people who followed the 2025 trial of Samuel Paty’s accomplices shared their experiences with students in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
The young people presented their book, “Génération Paty. The trial: young people face history,” at the school where Paty taught.
The students described attending intense court hearings and reflecting on the murder’s impact on freedom of expression.
The visit was the first time France Télévisions cameras had been allowed into the school since Paty was murdered in 2020.
- Who
- Young people involved in the Génération Paty project spoke to a class of students in their third year of collège.
- What
- They presented their book and shared their experience of following the trial of Samuel Paty’s accomplices.
- When
- The young people attended the trial in 2025; the article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- The collège where Paty taught, in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Yvelines, France.
- Why
- To recount the trial to younger students and reflect on the murder and freedom of expression.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Being here, where the events took place, is quite moving.
It’s true that when you arrive, it’s a bit of a shock to realise that this is where it all happened. You have trouble picturing it, trouble taking it in.
It was an experience outside of time. There were soldiers everywhere, police officers. There was the judge. The defendants were in a glass cage. It was very impressive; we felt very small.
It’s understanding that this wasn’t just a murder, that it was an attack on our freedom of expression. That means everyone’s right to think, to believe, not to believe, and to express themselves.
Samuel Paty was murdered 300 metres from his collège in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
Young people involved in Génération Paty followed the trial of Paty’s accomplices.
Young people presented their book and spoke to a class at Paty’s former school.
- Location
- Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Yvelines
- Book
- Génération Paty. The trial: young people face history
- Trial followed
- 2025 trial of Samuel Paty’s accomplices
- Paty murdered
- 16 October 2020
- Distance from school
- 300 metres
Sources
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