20 Men Found Guilty in 2015 Paris Attacks

SEP 16 2022·Updated JAN 20 2023

Story

Image credit: Getty Images [via CBS News]

The Facts

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for nine other defendants. Life sentences have only occurred four other times in France's history, for crimes related to rape and murder of children.
CBS News
A special French court on Wed. found 20 men guilty of involvement in the 2015 ISIS attacks on the Bataclan theater, Paris cafes, and France's national stadium that killed 130 people.
CBS News
Salah Abdeslam, the lone survivor of the group that physically carried out the attacks, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. His lawyer claimed he never set off explosives to kill anyone.
CBS News
Of the 20 defendants, 18 were convicted on various terrorism-related charges, with 13 tried in person and six - presumed dead - tried in absentia.
Axios
A majority of the suspects received non-murder charges and were accused of helping create false identities, transporting the attackers back to Europe from Syria, or providing money, phones, explosives, and weapons.
NBC
Throughout the nine-month trial, Abdeslam cried, acknowledged his radicalism, apologized to the victims, and asked for forgiveness.
CBS News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

This trial has been a crucial step in the nation addressing its collective trauma over the atrocious 2015 attacks. The judicial system has finally given one of these radicals the life sentence he deserves, and every terrorist like him should face the same consequence from here on out.

Guardian

Narrative B

While this trial has certainly been critical in bringing the remaining survivor of the group behind the attacks to justice, it also gave Abdeslam a platform to generate additional trauma through his hate speech. He may have apologized, but his apology is overshadowed by his provocative speech throughout the trial.