Samuel Paty Trial Highlights Links Between Killer and Extremist Group HTC

Testimonies reveal the killer's radicalization and connections to Hayat Tahrir al-Cham, a group now central to Syria's shifting political landscape.

The trial of Samuel Paty's murder has brought renewed attention to the radicalization of his killer, Abdoullakh Anzorov, and his fascination with the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTC).
HTC, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, recently gained prominence after playing a key role in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, further complicating the trial's context.
Anzorov was reportedly in contact with HTC-linked recruiter Faruq Shami, who urged violence in France but has not faced legal action despite his influence.
Ismael Gamaev, one of the accused on trial, expressed remorse for his role in promoting extremist ideologies and detailed his path toward deradicalization during his testimony.
The trial underscores the challenges of addressing online radicalization, as Anzorov's connections to HTC and other extremist figures were facilitated through social media platforms.