French rally in tribute to beheaded teacher

Rallies were held in numerous cities

Credit: Antoine Gyori/Corbis via Getty Images

Jean Castex, the prime minister, joined politicians from different parties at the rally in Place de la République, in Paris, where some 1.5 million people gathered in 2015 after Islamist gunmen massacred 12 people at the office of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The attackers said they were responding to its publication of the controversial cartoons. 

The crowd observed a minute’s silence and sang the national anthem. Mr Castex tweeted: ”You do not scare us. We are not afraid. You will not divide us. We are France!"

Mr Macron chaired a crisis meeting of ministers and security chiefs on Sunday night to discuss action to prevent attacks.

After the meeting, the Elysée announced that security will be beefed up at schools and action will be taken to curb the activities of "organisations and individuals close to radicalised circles".

The president reportedly told ministers: "Islamists will not sleep peacefully in France. Fear will change sides."

Earlier this month, he outlined plans to curb the spread of radical Islamism and “Islamic separatism” by restricting the activities of religious, cultural and sporting groups, and banning home schooling.

Some held signs reading "I am a teacher" in support and memory of Samuel Paty

Credit: Antoine Gyori/Corbis via Getty Images

Liliane Cohen, 48, who attended the rally in Paris with a Muslim friend, said Mr Paty “was teaching his pupils about freedom of expression using the topical issue of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Those who object to the cartoons are free to make their views heard but the horror must stop.”

The teacher’s murder was the second terrorist attack in the Paris area since the trial began last month of 14 alleged accomplices of the Charlie Hebdo attackers.

The killer, Abdoulakh Anzorov, was shot dead by police shortly after the killing near the school where Mr Paty taught in Confland-Sainte-Honorine, 20 miles north-west of Paris.

His parents, grandfather and 17-year-old brother were among 11 people arrested at the weekend. Also detained was Brahim Chnina, the father of a 13-year-old girl in Mr Paty’s class. Mr Chnina posted social media messages denouncing Paty and identifying his school, which investigators suspect prompted the killing.

A national tribute to Mr Paty will be organised on Wednesday, the Elysée said.