WORLD
2 MIN READ
France defunds school over teaching Muslim ethics
The move against the Averroes school follows a recommendation by a consulting commission that questioned its teaching of Muslim ethics.
France defunds school over teaching Muslim ethics
The move against the Averroes school, founded 20 years ago in the northern city of Lille, follows a recommendation by a consulting commission that examined both its financing and its teaching of Muslim ethics. / Photo: AP
December 11, 2023

The French government has targeted the country's biggest Muslim high school by ending its state funding, authorities said, over curriculum that's in line with Islamic values.

The move against the Averroes school, founded 20 years ago in the northern city of Lille, follows a recommendation by a consulting commission that questioning its teaching of Muslim ethics.

According to Le Parisien daily, the commission dubbed the school's teachings of Muslim ethics "to be in violation of French republican values."

The paper said that inspectors belonging to the commission took exception of "an excessive emphasis on Islam in courses on religion" and lack of "LGBTQ content."

The school said it would lodge an appeal with an administrative court.

RelatedAuthorities in France launch probe after Muslim prayer room vandalised

The high school of 800 pupils – 400 of whom are covered by the state convention – regularly scores highly in academic standards, but came onto the radar of local authorities after receiving a grant from Qatar in 2014.

What's interesting to note is that France's national school inspectors said in a 2020 report that they found nothing at odds with national education guidelines.

But the regional prefecture, in a report in November, said it suspected the Averroes school of illicit financing, and giving students access to texts that goes against the "French values."

SOURCE:TRTWorld and agencies
Explore
Ukraine fires US-made ATACMS missiles at Russia amid intensified fighting
Trump team secretly drafting new Ukraine peace plan in talks with Moscow: report
Israel shells Syria’s Quneitra in new violation of country’s sovereignty
Trump greenlights CIA to prepare plans for covert operations in Venezuela: report
Cristiano Ronaldo attends White House meeting between Trump and Saudi crown prince
US House overwhelmingly passes bill demanding release of more Epstein files
Germany, France push EU to secure digital sovereignty, curb reliance on US, China
Türkiye renames 'Central Asia' as 'Turkistan' in school curriculum
UK claims Chinese spying threatens British democracy
Philippines, Palestine agree to boost ties in Manila talks
Analysis: EU subsidy scandal leaves Greece with no place to hide
Syria holds first public trials in Aleppo for suspects linked to coastal unrest
TIMELINE: Here’s what has happened in India since the New Delhi car explosion
Sudanese army, allies report major gains against RSF in North Kordofan
EU pledges protection for Belgium over risks of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
Zelenskyy plans to visit Türkiye ‘to intensify negotiations’
China vows to protect foreigners as Beijing and Tokyo hold talks to ease row over Taiwan remarks
United States receives the largest share of China’s overseas credit: study
'Deeply ashamed': Ex-Harvard president steps down from public commitments after Epstein emails
Japan warns citizens in China amid escalating diplomatic row over Taiwan comments