Warsaw (AFP)

A petition launched on the internet for the cancellation of a visit by Roman Polanski to the famous film school of Lodz (center) of which he is a former student, after the new accusations of rape against him, was rejected by the management of this establishment as "inappropriate".

"We, the under-signed students, employees and former students of the Lodz Film School, are demanding the cancellation of a meeting with Roman Polanski scheduled for Saturday at the school," said a petition launched on the internet and signed Thursday morning by 116 people.

Roman Polanski has to go to Lodz for the Cinergia festival where he has to present his latest film "J'accuse".

"It is not up to us to judge whether the accusations are true or not." At the same time, we consider that the weight of these accusations makes the meeting with Mr. Polanski on the school grounds a lack of respect towards all those who have been victims of violent behavior, such people are also among us, are part of the community of our school.We demand that there is no exception to these rules, "wrote the authors of this petition.

AFP was unable to join Thursday morning the authors of this initiative.

"The film school, like any other educational institution, should be a place where violent sexual behavior should be condemned.Mr. Polanski is accused of at least five such behaviors.The youngest of the victims was elderly. ten years, "says this text again.

The rector of the film school reacted on Facebook to "signals (for now unofficial) about these controversies".

According to Professor Mariusz Grzegorzek, "Human life is a complex and vibrant phenomenon that requires discernment and respect, and we, the artists, should understand it in particular.It is not up to us to make verdicts in such ambiguous cases. and complex than the allegations against Roman Polanski, "wrote the rector.

"I prefer to invite some of the interested students and employees (I remind you here that this meeting is not public) to discuss with a wonderful and experienced artist, a wise man, willing to a deep conversation," he said. said.

Still pursued by US justice for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl 40 years ago, accused of rape or assault four times by other women, Polanski was recently blamed by a French photographer , Valentine Monnier, who claims to have been "beaten" and raped by the director in 1975, when she was 18 years old.

Polanski challenged this accusation.

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