Islamophobic and Neo-Nazi Stickers Spark Outrage in Orleans, University Files Complaint

In Orleans, Islamophobia is manifesting through stickers. On Tuesday, messages such as "Muslim-free zone" or "Good Night, Left Side" accompanied by vulgar and violent drawings or symbols were posted on public property in Orleans, as well as on the university campus. This outraged Nicolas*, a history-geography teacher, who spotted a sticker on rue Charles Sanglier, which he managed to tear off, and another a few meters away, which he covered up, reports franceinfo. "I was walking in the city center when I came across these stickers," he recounts. "We’re a bit stunned. I think a line has been crossed, that we have a completely uninhibited far-right."

Nicolas* reported his discovery to the Loiret branch of the La France Insoumise party, which made a post about it on social media. These situations are brought about by "the Islamophobic speeches of the Interior Minister and his far-right allies, relayed endlessly on TV shows," asserts Thomas Portes, LFI deputy for Seine-Saint-Denis. Rima Hassan, a European deputy, directly addresses the mayor of Orleans, Serge Grouard.

Currently, the City of Orleans is using video surveillance to try to identify the person or people who stuck these Islamophobic and neo-Nazi stickers. From now on, it intends to file a complaint against unknown persons each time stickers of the same kind are discovered. On Thursday, the University of Orleans announced that a complaint has been filed. "The University strongly condemns these actions and is implementing all necessary measures to identify those responsible, while reaffirming its support for the entire university community." The stickers have been removed from the campus.

Sophie Brocas, prefect of Loiret, in a statement, condemned "with the utmost firmness" these displays of messages "inciting hatred, violence or discrimination against the Muslim community" in Orleans. The prefect of the department and the Centre-Val de Loire region announces that she has referred the matter to the public prosecutor of Orleans.

*Name changed