what we know about death threats received by a couple of teachers
A couple received letters in their letterbox as well as a photo of Samuel Paty, professor assassinated a year ago in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. They filed two complaints.
Two teachers from Marseille received a letter of death threats on Saturday, the day of the commemoration of the assassination of Samuel Paty, teacher at the college of Bois-d’Aulne, killed a year ago.
The previous month, the couple had received a similar first letter, as well as a photo of Samuel Paty, who since his death has become a symbol of freedom of expression.
A threatening photo and letters
The first facts date from September 8. The teachers, professors in two different colleges, collect their mail from their letterbox. They discover a photo of the murdered teacher.
Four days later, it is a typed threatening letter that the couple identifies in the middle of their letters. “You are going to die”, can one read in particular on the sheet.
Same scenario on October 16, the anniversary of Samuel Paty’s death. “Last days… next week, you will die”, it is notably written.
Two complaints filed, one investigation opened
The couple of teachers filed a first complaint after receiving the teacher’s photo, the Aix-Marseille Academy said on Monday in a press release.
An investigation was opened and opened to the urban security of the southern division. “At this stage, there is nothing to link these facts to a course given by one of the teachers,” said the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
The teachers filed a second complaint on Saturday “for death threats in writing”, completes the rectorate of the Aix-Marseille academy.
Protective measures
Considering the seriousness of the threats, the national SNES, a teachers’ union, asked the rectorate for protective measures for the targeted teachers.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office indicates that a safety device has been set up by the police services.
In addition, the Ministry of Education specifies that functional protection has been allocated to teachers, which implies assistance, support and payment of legal costs.
Reactions from several elected officials
In its press release, the Académie d’Aix-Marseille assures us that the Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer “strongly condemns these threats”.
Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, also sent on Twitter his “support” for teachers and demands that “everything” be done to “protect our teachers”.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, also broadcast a message of “support for threatened teachers in Marseille”. “In such a sensitive context, this kind of act is not trivial, he said. Let us hope that everything is done to protect our teachers.”