French university cancels pro-Palestinian conference
In what was another controversy surrounding free speech and pro-Palestinian activism, a university in northern France cancelled a conference, which was set to take place on April 18, on Palestine, Le Monde reported.
The University of Lille said that they had cancelled the event due to buoyant tensions in the region, notably citing the recent chaos between Iran and Israel as well as due to widespread pressure.
They said that “the conditions are no longer in place to guarantee the calmness of the debates, and it has therefore been decided not to authorise the holding of the conference, scheduled for Thursday 18 April”.
The now-snubbed conference was organised by a pro-Palestinian student who had invited guests such as left-wing firebrand Jean Luc Mélenchon of the La France Insoumise (LFI) Party and Rima Hassan – who is of Palestinian origin -, a candidate at June’s European Elections for the former’s party.
Critics of the event said that the organisers as well as some guests “denied the existence of the State of Israel”. Organisers have denied holding such views.
Mélenchon claimed that the event was cancelled as Lille University pandered to those “who unconditionally support the Netanyahu government.”
Xavier Bertrand, a politician representing the centre-right Les Republicains (LR) Party, welcomed the university’s decision and claimed that the conference would incite hate against France’s Jewish community.
“We cannot tolerate, in a French university, such a conference by La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Rima Hassan who through the logo ‘Free Palestine’ deny the existence of the State of Israel.” Bertrand said.
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Undeterred by the setback, Melenchon, Hassan and other LFI members held a well-attended public rally, which they named “Contre la Censure” (“against censorship”) on the streets of Lille on April 18 as Mr Mélenchon urged his supporters to “speak up” for what they believe in regardless of potential consequences.
Shortly after Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7, thousands spilled on to the streets of major French cities in support of the Palestinian cause much to the chagrin of President Emmanuel Macron, whose government subsequently clamped down on such activism.
Despite this, pro-Palestine marches still take place across the country and those taking part are often subject to police brutality.
Macron has softened his pro-Israel stance since October, calling for a ceasefire as well as repeatedly criticising Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank over the past six months.
In neighbouring Germany, censorship of pro-Palestinian voices is remarkably worse as events have been cancelled one by one and venues who have hosted people with such views have been on the receiving end of funding cuts.
Police interrupted and cancelled a Palestine Congress on April 12 in Berlin just minutes after it kicked off and one of the main speakers, Palestinian surgeon and newly elected Glasgow University Rector Ghassan Abu Sittah, was denied entry into the country by the authorities.
Not only was Abu Sittah locked out, but he also faced threats from the same authorities, who warned him about making a speech to the conference via video link.
Le Monde
