French Region Halts Funding for Muslim High School Amid Islamism Concerns

The suspension concerns the financing of computer equipment and roof renovation work for a total of 45,300 €.

"We are waiting for the State to tell us whether the contract between the Averroès high school and the National Education is being respected before releasing the subsidies," it was said on Monday morning in the entourage of the Regional President.

According to La voix du nord, there was the resignation in 2015 of a philosophy professor who accused the school authorities of undermining the secularism advocated in France.

Despite this situation, several inspections have taken place and have all proven that, despite appearances, the terms of the establishment’s contract with the State are "generally respected.

However, it is appropriate, on certain points, to clarify the status and place of the religious in the establishment" by dissociating in particular "more clearly the instances of the "Averroès" Association from those of the establishment".

Makhlouf Mamèche, Financial Director of the high school, says he is "surprised" by a "turnaround" that is based on "the instrumentalization of the high school for political ambitions."

According to him, there is no reason to suspend this fund if the high school has always enjoyed the esteem of the President, seduced by the work being done there.

The Averroès high school is a private establishment under contract with the National Education, which therefore controls the pedagogy.

According to the newspaper, Arabic is taught there as a third language. With the canteen being 100% halal, the high school has a prayer room "like Catholic establishments" and the authorities acknowledge the existence of a course in Muslim ethics, financed by the Averroès Association and not by the National Education.