Samuel Paty: how betrayal by classmates and online posts led to his murder

Five years after Samuel Paty was murdered on a Parisian street, the shock has faded into a troubling pattern: schools silencing teachers, governments softening on blasphemy, and public debate shrinking under the weight of fear. What began as an act of brutal political violence has rippled through Europe, reshaping how societies treat free expression and how authorities respond to threats tied to religious sensitivity.

This is not just the story of one killing. It is a record of how a single, horrific event set off a chain of reactions — some immediate and defiant, others subtle and corrosive — that together amount to a retreat from the secular, liberal values many European countries once touted.

Immediate reaction: grief, solidarity and a firm stand — briefly

In the days after the attack, France and beyond put on a show of unity. Vigils, marches and official honors underscored widespread condemnation of the violence and a commitment, at least rhetorically, to the principles that Paty represented: secular education and the right to discuss uncomfortable ideas. Leaders promised investigations and legal action against extremist networks.

• High-profile memorials and state honors marked a national moment of mourning.
• Authorities shut down groups and networks that promoted harassment and threats.
• Public demonstrations rallied behind free speech and the protection of teachers.

But that initial resolve did not translate into sustained change. The flash of outrage that followed the murder failed to become a durable shield for educators or a long-term policy to resist intimidation.

Classrooms in retreat: why teachers are changing what they teach

In the years since the murder, many French teachers have quietly reassessed what is safe to teach. Discussions about religion, history and art are increasingly policed — not by law but by anxiety. Surveys and anecdotal reports show a marked rise in self-censorship: topics that once formed the backbone of a secular curriculum are now avoided to reduce the risk of confrontation.

• Lessons about religion and controversial imagery are being toned down or skipped.
• Teachers report avoiding subjects from sexual education to scientific topics to sidestep possible backlash.
• Administrative pressure and fear of legal complaints have pushed some educators to err on the side of avoidance.

An example of this cultural shift: a school west of Paris saw staff walk out after parents objected to a Renaissance painting used in class because it contained nude figures. Incidents like that demonstrate how parental complaints, amplified by social media, can unsettle school communities and force educators to rethink lessons once considered routine.

European backslide: legal and cultural shifts on blasphemy and criticism of religion

The problem extends beyond France. Across Europe, the legal landscape is shifting in ways that make criticizing religion riskier and policing offense easier. The Danish uproar over cartoons two decades ago once produced a firm defense of press freedoms. Yet recent legal changes in Denmark have reintroduced protections around the treatment of sacred texts, creating a new, albeit different, form of blasphemy restriction.

In the UK, cases involving provocations aimed at religious symbols have exposed a judicial and police system increasingly willing to treat acts of criticism as hate incidents. Even when courts reverse decisions, the initial responses reveal how law enforcement and prosecutors are adapting to public pressure and sensitivities.

Specific developments worth noting

• Legislative moves that criminalize improper handling of holy books or similar protections are cropping up in places that once championed free expression.
• Court cases over public acts of religious provocation highlight a tilt toward treating speech about religion through the lens of public order and hate crime law.
• Countries that repealed blasphemy statutes have nonetheless seen new policies and social norms that functionally limit permissible criticism.

Mob enforcement and weak deterrence: how threats have gone unanswered

Beyond laws and classroom choices, there is a palpable pattern: threats and violence aimed at perceived offenders often go insufficiently punished. Attacks that are clearly retaliatory or intended to intimidate sometimes lead to light sentences, and menacing campaigns of harassment frequently meet minimal institutional resistance.

Consider instances where individuals who issued threats or carried out attacks faced little beyond symbolic penalties, or where institutions — schools, police, local officials — sided with complainants rather than protecting staff. These responses send a dangerous signal: intimidation can be an effective way to shape public discourse.

• Assailants who attack critics are sometimes spared harsh sentences, undermining deterrence.
• Authorities may prioritize immediate calm over upholding robust free-speech protections.
• Victims of threats frequently experience isolation as institutions seek to minimize controversy.

Why the right to offend still matters — and what’s at stake

Defending the freedom to criticize, satirize and offend is not a callous endorsement of provocation for its own sake. It is a defense of the civic space where ideas — including uncomfortable ones — can be tested, challenged and understood. When societies start to protect beliefs from ridicule, they gradually narrow the arena of public debate and empower those who would shut others down by force or intimidation.

Protecting teachers and journalists from intimidation is essential to maintaining a pluralistic, secular public sphere. If cultural and legal changes continue to prioritize the avoidance of offense over the defense of expression, the result will be a quieter, less critical Europe in which violent threats achieve their political aims by default.

This article was written by Fraser Myers, deputy editor at spiked and presenter of the spiked podcast. Follow him on X: @FraserMyers.

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Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a dedicated columnist focusing on political and social debates. With twelve years in editorial writing, he provides nuanced, well‑argued perspectives. His commentaries invite you to form your own views and engage in critical issues.