Toulouse Schools Probed Over Muslim Student Absences on Eid al-Fitr

The letter, signed by two school security correspondents from the Rive Gauche police station in Bagatelle, was sent mainly to establishments located in priority education areas (ZEP). According to La Dépêche, the police would have acted without informing the academic authorities, suggesting a national directive from the Ministry of the Interior.

The reactions have been strong among teachers’ unions and associations. Some point out the inappropriateness of this request, considering that it equates religious practice with a matter of domestic security. Voices have been raised to denounce a potential religious file and to recall that freedom of conscience and worship are fundamental rights guaranteed by the State.

The academic authorities reacted quickly, denying any involvement of the National Education in this request and calling on the establishments not to respond to it. But questions remain about the use of this data and the real objective of this request. A similar case has also been reported in Montpellier, reinforcing concerns about respect for the principles of secularism and individual freedoms, the newspaper reports.