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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

Lyon 2 University Grant Frozen Amid 'Islamist-Leftist Drift' Accusations; Professor Backs Inquiry

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A grant of nearly 10 million euros to the University of Lyon 2 remains frozen following accusations of "Islamist-leftist drift."
  • Professor Fabrice Balanche, who was physically attacked by activists during a course, supports the decision, calling it the only way to ensure an administrative inquiry.
  • The university faces two investigations, one by national intelligence services and another by the general inspectorate of education, while the funding is on hold.

A grant of nearly 10 million euros intended for the University of Lyon 2 has been frozen amid accusations of "Islamist-leftist drift." Professor Fabrice Balanche, who experienced a physical altercation with activists during one of his lectures, expressed his approval of this decision, viewing it as the sole mechanism to compel an administrative investigation.

It’s the only way to obtain this administrative inquiry.

— Fabrice BalancheProfessor Balanche commenting on the frozen subsidy and the necessity of an investigation.

According to the newspaper Le Progrès, Laurent Wauquiez and the regional council initiated a dual investigation following allegations of "Islamist-leftist drift" at the university. One inquiry will be led by the national territorial intelligence services, and the other by the general inspectorate of education. Until the conclusions are reached, the 9.9 million euro subsidy allocated for 2025 will remain suspended.

Balanche, a geography professor, stated, "We cannot give public money to universities without guarantees on the serenity of the teaching conditions prevailing there." He recounted an incident on April 1, 2025, where he was assaulted during his own class by several pro-Palestinian activists. The police investigation at the time was closed without charges due to an inability to identify the perpetrators.

We cannot give public money to universities without guarantees on the serenity of the teaching conditions prevailing there.

— Fabrice BalancheProfessor Balanche explaining his view on the conditions for public funding of universities.

"It is quite incredible that a group of 20 people who occupied a room for two months with the university's consent are completely unknown to the university staff," Balanche lamented on Le Figaro TV. He is pleased that territorial intelligence services are now more involved. This assault was not the sole incident prompting the accusations against the university; history professor Julien Théry also faced accusations of making antisemitic remarks.

It is quite incredible that a group of 20 people who occupied a room for two months with the university's consent are completely unknown to the university staff.

— Fabrice BalancheProfessor Balanche expressing disbelief regarding the lack of identification of activists involved in an occupation.

Balanche noted that a petition supporting Théry gathered numerous signatures within the academic world, while he himself could only count on a small group of colleagues. "We can see there is a double standard in academic freedom," he concluded, highlighting his perspective on the disparity in support and attention given to such incidents.

We can see there is a double standard in academic freedom.

— Fabrice BalancheProfessor Balanche commenting on perceived disparities in how academic freedom is applied or supported.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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