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French Schools Hold Nationwide 10 a.m. Silence for Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard

The commemorations highlight teachers' heightened sense of exposure after the killings.

Overview

  • At 10 a.m., collèges and lycées across France observed a minute of silence, with many schools also holding discussion sessions with students.
  • Local ceremonies complemented the national tribute, including an event in Eragny-sur-Oise and a gathering of roughly 300 people in Arras on Monday.
  • Samuel Paty was killed on October 16, 2020, after showing caricatures of Muhammad in class, and Dominique Bernard was fatally stabbed in Arras on October 13, 2023, by a former pupil flagged for radicalization.
  • In the Paty case, eight people were convicted at first instance with sentences ranging from one to sixteen years, and an appeal for the principal accused is scheduled for early 2026.
  • Teachers' unions say the events have left the profession feeling vulnerable and criticize the ministry for relying on staff to organize tributes.