A Muslim father who orchestrated an online hate campaign which led to the beheading of a French schoolteacher has told a Paris court he "regrets it went badly".
Brahim Chnina, 52, faces up to 30 years in prison for his alleged role in the murder of Samuel Paty, who was killed outside his school in October 2020.
"I regret infinitely what I did," Chnina told the special court at the Palais de Justice. "I am not a terrorist and I am not part of a terrorist criminal association."
The murder was carried out by Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old Chechen migrant, who was later shot dead by police.
Brahim Chnina (left, in colour) said he regretted his actions 'infinitely'
GETTY
The attack was triggered by Chnina's 13-year-old daughter falsely claiming she had been in Paty's class when he showed cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed.
She alleged Muslim pupils were asked to leave before the cartoons were displayed.
These false claims led to a widespread cyberbullying campaign against Paty - and Anzorov had seen pictures and videos claiming Paty was promoting cartoons by the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine, which had been the target of a horrific radical Islamist terror attack a few years prior.
Phone records revealed Anzorov was in regular contact with Chnina before travelling 60 miles to carry out the murder.
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Chnina's 13-year-old daughter falsely claimed she had been in Paty's class when he showed cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed
REUTERS
But in court, Chnina insisted he was not an extremist, stating: "I am not a radical. My practice of religion is like that of all Muslims in France."
He admitted telling people that Paty had "bragged" about supporting Charlie Hebdo magazine.
"I was stupid and silly to post on social media. I just wanted to defend my daughter," Chnina told the court.
He acknowledged making "the unforgivable mistake" of sharing the teacher's contact details and the school's information.
Chnina also admitted to calling Paty "a thug" and "sick" during his online bullying campaign.
Seven men and one woman are on trial
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The trial involves eight people accused of encouraging Anzorov's actions, with two defendants allegedly calling Paty a "blasphemer" online.
Two others are accused of providing logistical support to Anzorov, while four more allegedly offered assistance via chatlines.
Paty had shown the Charlie Hebdo caricatures during an ethics class about the 2015 terror attack on the magazine, in which 10 staff members and two police officers were killed.
One of those on trial is Abdelhakim Sefrioui, a 65-year-old Franco-Moroccan Islamist activist.
The trial, in the courthouse on Paris's Ile de la Cite, is slated to conclude on December 20
REUTERS
Both Sefrioui and Chnina claim they only sought "administrative sanctions" against Paty, not violence.
Last week, Chnina's daughter - referred to in court by the pseudonym Zhora - confessed to lying about the incident and told Paty's family: "I'm sorry for destroying your life".
The schoolgirl received an 18-month suspended sentence last year for her lies.
Seven men and one woman are currently appearing at the Special Assize Court in Paris.
And the trial, which began last month, is slated to continue until December 20.
