People gather at the Place de la Republique in Paris to pay tribute to Samuel Paty. Photo: ReutersThousands of people gathered across France on Sunday to support teachers and defend freedom of expression after the killing of Samuel Paty, a history teacher beheaded by a suspected Islamist on Friday (local time). From Paris to Lyon, Marseille and Lille large crowds gathered quietly, pausing regularly to applaud, hold minutes of silence or sing the national anthem. Earlier this month, the teacher had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression, angering a number of Muslim parents. President Emmanuel Macron was due to hold a security meeting with key ministers later on Sunday, his office said.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 18, 2020 20:26 UTC