Muslim Leaders Appeal to Macron Over Closure of Prestigious Islamic School

"This decision, with devastating consequences for the future of many young people, seriously threatens the sustainability of this institution of excellence and raises questions about the principles of equality and republican justice," worries the Council of Mosques of the Rhône (CMR) in the correspondence addressed to the French president, before highlighting the prowess of the Al-Kindi high school. "Since its creation, it has established itself as a model of excellence, offering its students a conducive environment for success thanks to quality teaching and rigorous pedagogy. The exceptional results obtained by its students in the baccalaureate are a testament to this. These young people, driven by the desire to escape mediocrity, aspire to contribute fully to French society and to be engaged and responsible actors in it," the body said.

The Council of Mosques of the Rhône (CMR) points out that the decision taken by the prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region "deprives 627 students and their families of a unique opportunity for personal and professional fulfillment." According to the body, many parents, "for economic reasons, will be forced to move their children to other establishments in the agglomeration, at the cost of sacrifices that could have been avoided." "This decision is perceived as a deep injustice, and is causing growing emotion within the community," it laments, noting that "a similar situation, affecting the Stanislas high school in Paris, had a very different outcome, thanks to a resolute intervention by the authorities to guarantee its sustainability." For the body, "such a disparity of treatment can only raise legitimate questions about the equal treatment of citizens and institutions in our country."

Recalling that the Muslims of France "are full-fledged citizens, committed to the common good and faithful to the republican values," the CMR points out that "the measures taken against the Al-Kindi high school do not seem to reflect these fundamental principles, thus separating a part of our fellow citizens from the promise of equality that founds our Republic." Based on these findings, the body calls on the French Head of State to act "in favor of an equitable solution that allows" this institution "to continue its educational mission under dignified conditions."