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| Europe |
| Students in Burqas at Paris’ School of Eastern Languages |
| 2003-06-04 |
| Long article; severely EFL; you really want to read the whole thing for an example of French fecklessness in dealing with a serious problem at their premiere language schools. France's preeminent institution for Eastern language studies (INALCO), commonly knows as "L'Ecole des Langues O.", is falling prey to an unprecedented Islamist surge in its Arabic department. Students have described unimaginable incidents: students wearing burqas, women refusing to pass exams with male professors
The school president has yet to convene a meeting of the professors confronting such situations and is unaware of how they are reacting. A host of problems have recently cropped up in the latter locale. AsniÚres, where 1,200 students are registered, is home to the school's Arabic department. A small minority of students – 2% to 3%, according to school president Gilles Delouche – are creating significant problems for the administration, professors and students. An Islamist influence is increasingly being felt within the department. An astonishing climate has settled upon the place where it is not uncommon to see women completely covered except for their eyes, a few burqas and even clerics. One of the letters addressed to INALCO's president describes a somber atmosphere for the students. It speaks of an "oppressive climate which allows for no dialogue" and a "threatening atmosphere." Some issues are not brought up for reasons of "personal safety." President Delouche was evasive as to how many letters he has received. "A certain number," he said vaguely. A professor of Near Eastern contemporary history was told by some students that she did not have the right to quote or interpret the Koran during her classes. Their argument was that she is not a Muslim and therefore cannot talk about the holy book. Her classes touch upon sensitive issues in places like Israel, Palestine or Iraq. After her class, some students handed out partisan documents refuting the elements of her course. A meeting of all the professors of the Arabic studies department was held to discuss this incident. Some professors admitted that they practiced self-censorship to avoid such problems. A classical poetry professor confessed that he no longer taught secular poetry that spoke of wine, love or physical desire and that could "shock" some individuals. Self-censorship seems to be afflicting many professors and students. A 25-year-old Muslim student who arrived from an Arab country last year is flabbergasted by the problems encountered in France. "I've traveled 1,700 km so I don't have to see these people. And now I find them in Paris. It's crazy." he says. "You don't have these issues at the Arabic department of University of Paris IV. Why ? There's a striking complacency in AsniÚres." There's a lot more to this, and it lends credence to the argument that there is a revolution occurring in France right under the noses of the French elite. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Saudis at work here? |
| Posted by: RW 2003-06-04 14:37:07 |
| #5 Belligerent Muslims leaning on pussified Frenchmen and grabbing every edge they can get. If you read the article, the belief is that a "preacher" is behind this little high school power play. Ah, the deranged mullahs. What would a story about Muslims be without them. Frogistan. Sooner then you think. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-06-04 14:09:48 |
| #4 "Did i mention that your soi-disant "prophet" was a psychotic child-molesting liar with delusions of having god talk to him?" |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-06-04 09:55:12 |
#3 Some issues are not brought up for reasons of "personal safety." Religion of Peace™ in action. Bye, bye France. Who's next? **waiting for the world to wake-up...waiting...waiting...** |
| Posted by: Celissa 2003-06-04 08:50:17 |
| #2 A professor of Near Eastern contemporary history was told by some students that she did not have the right to quote or interpret the Koran during her classes. Their argument was that she is not a Muslim and therefore cannot talk about the holy book. The professor is extremely intelligent, knowing how much Muslim behavior is influenced by the Koran. This makes Wahabbi Muslims in particular predictable in certain areas, and thus vunerable. They know this, and thus try to gag her from revealing their archilles heel. This indirectly supports my thesis about the importance of being familiar with the Koran and the surrounding literature when dealing with Islamist extremists. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-06-04 08:21:43 |
| #1 Here is the problem in a nutshell: It only takes a very few militant people combined with a gutless government/leadership to take over. Very few people will put themselves on the line unless they're sure they've got support... Very much what happened in Germany in the late 20s and 30s...and don't kid yourself, the same thing could happen here, thanks to political correctness and the "grownups" who cheer it on... |
| Posted by: R. McLeod 2003-06-04 04:32:04 |