faced with accusations from the prefecture, Al-Kindi high school prepares its defense
Will there remain a private Muslim high school under contract in France? This is the underlying question posed by the situation of the Al-Kindi high school in Décines (Rhône), threatened with losing its contract with the State. After the rupture of that of the Averroès high school in Lille in September, it remains the only Muslim high school in France with such a partnership.
However, the prefect of Rhône, Fabienne Buccio, plans to break all the contracts linking the State to the Al-Kindi high school – which has 617 students from primary to high school. She summoned those in charge of the establishment to an academic consultation committee on Thursday, December 12. In the referral report to the prefecture that The Cross was able to consult, she invokes several “ breaches » for which the establishment would be accountable, ranging from “ attacks on the values of the Republic » to “ confusion between contracted and non-contracted sectors “. Twenty percent of high school classes are in fact still out of contract.
High school representatives denounce “relentlessness”
During a press conference organized at Al-Kindi high school on Friday, December 6, representatives of the high school denounced a “ relentlessness against Muslim educational establishments » and asked “ fair treatment » with the other establishments under contract in France, responding to the accusations step by step.
In the referral report consulted by The Crossthe high school is notably criticized for the presence of works “ contrary to the values of the Republic » in the CDI documentary collection, some of which – The Way of the Muslimby Aboubakr Al Djazaïri and Boulough al Maramby Ibn Hajar Al Asqalaoui – would “the promotion of violent jihad” and would defend “a particularly retrograde view of Islam”.
Faced with these grievances, the establishment’s lawyers claim that the works were withdrawn from the CDI as a precautionary measure. Hakim Chergui, lawyer and co-founder of the establishment, would like to point out that these works “are legal, freely accessible in France”.“If these comments were crimes, it would be up to the State to ban these works”he argued, also denouncing a “infantilization” Muslims.
“We deny their ability to distance themselves from their texts”, he maintains before explaining: “Just because a problematic sentence was written in another country and in another context doesn’t mean we don’t know it doesn’t apply here.”
Internal rules regarding girls
The prefecture also points to comments made on social networks by one of the high school teachers, Shakeel Siddiq, which according to it are “incompatible with the values of the Republic”. She criticizes him in particular for making retrograde remarks towards women, for having defended imams recently expelled by France, like Hassan Iquioussen.
This teacher has since been placed on temporary layoff, said one of the establishment’s lawyers, Me Sefen Guez Guez. “We are told of his positions outside the establishment, while there is nothing to reproach in his course”, he argues.
At college too, the report considers that the history-geography course is not consistent with the values of the Republic, and takes as its argument a quote appearing to incite murder found in a student’s notebook. “This sentence comes from a final year textbook published by Nathan Editions”, retorts Me Jocerand Lecardonnel, one of the lawyers. It serves to illustrate the excesses that the terrorism of Al-Qaeda or Daesh can represent, and in no way means that the Al-Kindi establishment or even its students would be radicalized, he continues. Otherwise, we would also have to blame the Nathan publishing house.”
Finally, the establishment is accused of having internal regulations that discriminate against girls, which prohibit “ tight and transparent tops ”, as well as makeup and piercings, and recommends for the bottom “ the long skirt or pants “. These internal regulations were amended upon receipt of the referral report, indicates the establishment. The prefecture still points to confusion between the contracted and non-contracted sectors.
A mobilization Saturday December 7
Faced with these accusations, the school’s lawyers deplored a measure “repressive” termination of the association contract, in place of a dialogue with the prefecture to remedy the points raised. “Why don’t we have any support options? If there are points, let’s discuss them in good understanding”, believes Me Guez Guez, drawing a parallel with the Stanislas Catholic high school, which, after being called into question by inspection reports, did not lose its association contract.
“The Muslim community asks itself a lot of questions: is it the success of Muslim children that is disturbing? »also asked Mohamed Minta, imam of the Décines mosque. If the high school were to lose its contract, it would no longer be able to pay its 36 teachers under contract, as well as the scholarship holders, or finance the scholarships which represent more than 50% of the students. Parents of students will mobilize in support of their high school on Saturday, December 7.
