In a high-profile legal battle, the family of Abdelhakim Sefrioui, sentenced to 15 years for his alleged role in the murder of French teacher Samuel Paty, is appealing for a judicial review, citing a miscarriage of justice. As the new trial approaches in January 2026, prominent figures like Abdelilah Benkirane rally in support, questioning the fairness of the conviction amid claims of religious discrimination. In December 2024, the Special Assize Court of Paris sentenced Abdelhakim Sefrioui to fifteen years in prison for his involvement in the murder of Samuel Paty. The history and geography teacher was brutally murdered in October 2020 in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Yvelines, amid an escalating controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed shown during a civic education class. Sefrioui, a French-Moroccan activist, was implicated for supporting the father of a student who falsely claimed to have witnessed the incident. On appeal, Sefrioui's family is seeking a judicial review to address what they describe as a «miscarriage of justice«that resulted in his conviction for «association with terrorist criminals». As the new trial is set to commence on January 26, 2026, in Paris, Sefrioui's relatives held a press conference in Rabat on Wednesday, which was attended by Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD). Benkirane expressed his unwavering support for Sefrioui since the initial hearings, noting that he had submitted a written testimony to be presented in court. He stated that his backing is «natural», given Sefrioui's long-standing involvement with the Unicity and Reform Movement (MUR), the ideological foundation of the PJD, and his «fifty years of activism». Family Seeks Reassessment of Conviction During the meeting, Sefrioui's wife, sister, and elder brother called for a reexamination of the case, citing the lack of any direct connection to the attacker, who was killed near the crime scene. «Since this horrific crime against Samuel Paty, everything has been viewed through the lens of the attack rather than what Abdelhakim did or did not do», said Ikram, Sefrioui's wife. A member of the «Council of Imams of France», she emphasized that her husband has consistently supported Muslims, regardless of personal acquaintance. Ikram argued that the controversy was not sparked by the caricatures themselves, but by the discriminatory act of asking Muslim students to identify themselves and leave the classroom. She noted that her husband supported the student's father without prior knowledge, especially since the young girl's claims were initially considered credible until she confessed to lying. Alongside Sefrioui, Brahim Chnina, the student's father, received a thirteen-year prison sentence. The court president concluded that the two men «worked together to amplify their campaign's reach». The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) had sought 10 years for Chnina and 12 for Sefrioui, accusing them of transforming the controversy into a political and religious «offensive» on social media. However, Ikram maintains that her husband «could not have foreseen the terrorist's criminal plan». Legal Teams Challenge Prosecutor's Case Following the attack, lawyer Virginie Le Roy, representing Samuel Paty's family, filed a complaint against X with the French judiciary. The complaint targets the Ministry of the Interior and National Education for «failing to prevent a crime» and «failing to assist a person in danger», seeking to identify any individuals who might have been aware of the threats Paty faced before his murder. Prior to the attack, teachers at the school had reported a «serious threat to their physical integrity» due to the controversy. Speaking via video conference at the press conference, Hakim Chergui, Sefrioui's lawyer, argued that the court relied on «shocking falsehoods» that misrepresented the case. He asserted that his client «did not know the terrorist, nor did the terrorist know Sefrioui», with religion being the only link between them. Chergui contended that if Sefrioui had been a Buddhist or communist activist, he would not have faced prosecution. «The legal provisions regarding endangerment through digital means carry a maximum sentence of three years if proven», Chergui stated, highlighting the «double standards» that contributed to the 15-year sentence. «This logic could criminalize any Muslim exercising their public freedoms», he warned.
