France: In three schools, Muslims scream ‘Allahu akbar’ during minute of silence for teachers murdered by jihadis

The “diversity” we are ordered to “celebrate” somehow never involves respect for the native culture and people.

“Tribute to Dominique Bernard and Samuel Paty: four incidents noted in middle schools in Indre-et-Loire,” translated from “Hommage à Dominique Bernard et Samuel Paty : quatre incidents relevés dans des collèges d’Indre-et-Loire,” by Mariella Esvant, La Nouvelle République, October 14, 2024 (thanks to Medforth):

A tribute to the murdered teachers Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard was paid on Monday, October 14, 2024 in middle and high schools. Four incidents disrupted this commemoration in middle schools in Indre-et-Loire.

On Monday, October 14, 2024, middle and high schools in Indre-et-Loire participated in the national tribute to Samuel Paty and Dominique Bernard, the two teachers murdered by Islamist terrorists. The opportunity for academic director Christian Mendivé to put secularism back in the spotlight.

How did the tributes paid in Indre-et-Loire go? Have you been informed of any incidents?

“A minute of silence was organized today (Monday), and things will be done during the week with the teachers and their students. During the minute of silence, there was a lot of emotion, in the reserve, because the moment was very solemn. Four incidents were reported to us: in three middle schools, it was students who disrupted the minute of silence with a call like “Allah Akbar”. In another middle school, it was a father who asked that the minute of silence not be organized, or that his daughter be excused.”

The issue of secularism remains a sensitive subject. Are there tensions on this subject in the establishments of Indre-et-Loire?

“Schools are a reflection of society: the issue of secularism is not accepted by everyone. In recent years, we have had attacks on secularism that have come back to us. Students who wondered about taking music lessons during Ramadan, students who demonstrated in the canteen about the origin of their food, or a young girl who wanted to be exempted from sports. At the beginning of last year, there were also a few weeks of tension around the abaya.”

How do we work on these issues in the field?

“All our teachers and educators are trained on this subject, and on how to respond to attacks on secularism and the values ​​of the Republic: schools are there so that everyone can express themselves and think freely, secularism is something that protects us. There are also secularism representatives in schools and in the academic management.”

In terms of security, are there still areas for improvement?

“Security is a vast subject. We operate an agreement with the police and the justice system: all signals of attacks on secularism, even the weakest, are reported immediately. In addition, protocols have been in place for several years as part of Vigipirate.”

How do we find the balance between security requirements and openness to the outside world of schools?

“We obviously continue to keep the school alive, with other partners such as cultural, sports and community players, with parents, who have their place at school, but all of this must be organized: a school must know who is entering and why. With perhaps reflexes that we did not have before having secure gates, and people who control the entrance.”