Le Monde had access to the emails that were exchanged between Samuel Paty, his colleagues and his superiors, a week before his death. We see the dismay of a professor who is ready to stop his classes on freedom of expression of the press.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020, The world reported on the emails that were exchanged between Samuel Paty and his colleagues a week after his assassination. We discover the distress of a professor, teacher at the college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the Yvelines. At that time, Samuel Paty expresses his incomprehension in the face of the controversy generated. If at this time it is a local matter, the professor is concerned.
"I will be working next year on freedom of movement or, perhaps, Internet censorship in China (…) I will not do any more sequences on this theme. I will choose another freedom as the object of the sequence."
According to The world, Samuel Paty's discussion and concern begins on October 8, two days after his lecture on Mohammed cartoons: "The situation with your press freedom course has accelerated and worsened throughout the day today. An individual threatened to bring Muslims outside the college and alert the press," writes the principal of the college.
What Samuel Paty responds to by speaking of a "evil rumor" : "Madame F., I may be missing some elements. If I understand correctly, an individual threatens to bring Muslims in front of the college so that their children (who are also I suppose Muslims) are forced to look at the cartoons of the prophet (dictating to me in passing what to say or not to say, which is frankly not secular) (…) and he threatens to alert the press of this situation !!! The absurdity of the situation touches like often to the comic !!! "
Several times, Samuel Paty confides that he no longer wants to teach press freedom of expression. Distraught, he wrote by email: "I will be working next year on freedom of movement or, perhaps, Internet censorship in China (…) I will not do any more sequences on this theme. I will choose another freedom as the object of the sequence."
Two colleagues dissociate themselves from the course given by Samuel Paty and the exchanges of emails reveal a long debate on freedom of expression. The principal of the college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, she supports the professor. According to The world, the academy inspector allegedly advised Samuel Paty to file a complaint after a video was posted on social media with which the professor is associated: "From the moment Samuel Paty shares this with his colleagues, and during the Monday exchange organized by the Valeurs de la République team with the teachers, Samuel Paty enjoys the unanimous support of all his colleagues", explains the rectorate, contacted by the newspaper.