Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education and Research, February 23, 2021. -

AFP

  • For several weeks, the IEP Grenoble campus has been plagued by a series of controversies after accusations of Islamophobia targeting two teachers.

  • These professors had their names plastered on the walls of Political Science on Thursday.

  • An investigation was ordered by the Grenoble prosecutor's office following this action and this Sunday, several political figures reacted to this affair, starting with Minister Frédérique Vidal.

The controversy, which has animated the Sciences Po campus in Grenoble (Isère) for weeks, leads to chain reactions this Sunday.

The Minister of Higher Education Frédérique Vidal condemned "firmly", in a press release, the accusations of Islamophobia against two professors of Sciences Po Grenoble, denouncing "attempts at pressure and intimidation" which will be the subject of an investigation by the general education inspectorate.

A mission of the General Inspectorate of Education soon to be carried out

An investigation for "public insult" and "degradation" was opened by the prosecution of Grenoble after a collage of posters Thursday at the entrance of the Institute of Political Studies (IEP), on which one could read: "Des fascists in our lecture halls.

Islamophobia kills ”, with the names of two teachers.

The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation "strongly condemns these facts and denounces these attempts at pressure and intimidation which disturb the missions of the establishment", she said. Sunday.

"In addition to the judicial investigation", the ministry "will do its part in order to provide support to the management of the IEP of Grenoble and protection to its agents", she added, stressing that "the threats , insults and pressure have no place in higher education ”.

Frédérique Vidal "will initiate as soon as possible a mission of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research in order to establish the responsibilities of each and to help restore serenity within this establishment", a- she completed.

From "intellectual terrorism" according to Valérie Pécresse

Earlier today, several right-wing and far-right officials expressed concern over accusations of Islamophobia targeting a German professor and a political science teacher at the IEP.

Charges qualified as "intellectual terrorism" by Valérie Pécresse, potential right-wing candidate for 2022.

"When we throw teachers into the pasture and accuse them without any proof, by putting them almost a target behind their backs, I consider that it is intellectual terrorism", lambasted Valérie Pécresse (ex-LR, Free! ), president of the Ile-de-France region, on BFMTV.

“It is a call for denunciation that has been made.

The university must file a complaint against these students, ”insists Ms. Pécresse, who assures us that“ it comes from a student union, the UNEF, which is in full swing, in the midst of sinking ”.

"I do not forget what happened to Samuel Paty", professor assassinated in October by a young radicalized, adds again the president of Ile-de-France who considers that "Islamo-leftism is a reality in the 'university'.

“These are the methods that are fascist.

After the beheading of one of our teachers, after the threats weighing on too many of them, UNEF is knowingly endangering two teachers.

What is the next step ?

“Asks for its part in a tweet the deputy LREM Aurore Bergé, from the right.

The president of the National Rally Marine Le Pen denounced "a sordid affair" which demonstrates, according to her, "the whole reality of a repugnant, sectarian and limitless Islamogauchism".

"Part of the left has sunk into what is called Islamo-leftism," added his lieutenant Jordan Bardella on Sunday on France Inter.

L'Unf explains

For its part, the Unef Grenoble declared: “Comments that we consider Islamophobic, racist and reactionary have been made by teachers.

And that it is our duty to denounce them ”.

The union explains in a statement having relayed last week, without being at the initiative of this action, the photos of the posters stuck on Thursday on campus, accusing the teachers by name, then having withdrawn this publication.

“We heard the stir among them and beyond and we did not want to add confusion to our rejection of racism against Muslims as a result of the campaign generated by the right and the far right.

We have therefore withdrawn this photo, but we are not withdrawing our condemnation of Islamophobic remarks and discrimination in the face of studies for union membership, ”insists the union.

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