Three days after the assault on 13-year-old Samara at the Arthur-Rimbaud College in Montpellier, where she is a student, the three minors involved have been charged with “attempted voluntary manslaughter of a minor under 15,” the Montpellier prosecutor’s office announced in a statement on Friday, April 5. The three suspects had earlier admitted their involvement in the incident. The violence stemmed from “insults” exchanged between students on social media, according to the prosecutor, without any mention of religious motivations. One of the minors, aged 15, was also charged with previous acts of violence against a minor under 15, but without causing total incapacity for work. He is under judicial supervision, while the other two minors are being held by a judge. The suspects are prohibited from contacting Samara or entering the school premises.
In response to this incident and the recent assault on Shamseddine, a 15-year-old who died after being violently attacked near his college in Viry-Chatillon, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of schools remaining a “sanctuary” free from unbridled violence among adolescents. Macron expressed strictness against all forms of violence and the need to protect schools from such incidents. At the same time, he urged caution in attributing the causes and circumstances of these attacks, which occurred outside school premises. An administrative investigation is ongoing to determine any potential staff negligence at the college where the assault took place.
Samara, the victim, confirmed the violence she experienced, though she did not mention long-term harassment during her initial questioning. Her mother revealed that she had been targeted by a fellow student for over a year, who referred to her as an unbeliever possibly due to her way of dressing, hinting at a conflict over religious practices. The aggression seems to have been part of a pattern of social media exchanges and photo sharing among a group of adolescents, fueling tensions leading to the incident.
The potentially religious aspect of the case has sparked political commentary, with the mother of Samara denouncing the exploitation of her daughter’s suffering by the far-right on a television program. A socialist deputy from Essonne announced legal action regarding religious threats made prior to the assault, highlighting derogatory terms used towards Samara, who is Muslim, due to her appearance and mannerisms. The rector of the Paris Mosque rejected any politicization of the incident, emphasizing the normalization of extreme violence and negative impact of social media as the core issues to address.
In addition to the criminal investigation, education authorities have launched an administrative inquiry to assess any staff misconduct at the school. Two education officials appointed by the Minister of Education are conducting interviews and gathering evidence to determine if any errors were made by school personnel. The minister has pledged to take necessary actions based on the findings of the inquiry, reflecting a commitment to addressing safety concerns within educational institutions and ensuring accountability for all parties involved.
