France halts admissions of Palestinians as they probe student for alleged anti-Semitic slurs.
Following the controversial case of a Gaza student at Sciences-Po Lille, France is reviewing its international student admissions process. The student, who was admitted to the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) on the proposal of the French Consulate General in Jerusalem, was disenrolled from the university on Wednesday due to content in some of her publications that contradict the values upheld by Sciences-Po Lille.
Screenshots circulating on social media show that an account, attributed to this student, had shared messages calling for the killing of Jews. As a result, the Lille prosecutor's office opened an investigation for apology of terrorism and apology of crime against humanity concerning the social media publications of the student.
The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated that the young woman has no place in France and must leave the national territory. He made this declaration on August 1, adding that no evacuations of any kind will take place until the consequences of this investigation are drawn.
France will not accept evacuated Gazans until the conclusions of an investigation into the loopholes that allowed the student accused of anti-Semitic remarks to be admitted. Barrot also announced that all profiles that have entered France will undergo a new verification.
Higher Education and Research Minister Philippe Baptiste reacted to the incident, stating a failure at the screening stage by the competent ministries. He expressed that France fights relentlessly against anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination in higher education. Baptiste will make proposals to improve the selection process for international students at the start of the academic year.
Minister François-Noël Buffet acknowledged the need to answer the question of how the student was allowed to enter and suggested possible prosecutions and expulsion from her country. The Quai d'Orsay, when contacted by AFP, did not communicate the number of people affected by this decision due to confidentiality reasons.
International applicants typically must meet academic requirements equivalent to French standards, demonstrate language skills, and pass entrance exams or interviews for selective institutions. For students outside the EU/EEA, the Preliminary Admission Requirement (DAP) is processed by the French embassy's Culture and Cooperation Service in their home country, which serves as an initial screening step before university admission.
Although the specific ramifications of the Sciences-Po Lille incident on policy were not found in the current results, France maintains a standardized, multi-step admission and screening process designed to balance educational standards with diplomatic and administrative oversight. Institutions are expected to adhere to these protocols uniformly for international students, including those from politically sensitive regions.
- War-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice intersect as a controversial case of a Gaza student at Sciences-Po Lille has led to investigations for apology of terrorism and apology of crime against humanity.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, France's Higher Education and Research Minister, Philippe Baptiste, has acknowledged a failure at the screening stage for international students and expressed a need to improve the selection process.
- General-news outlets reported that Frances's multi-step admission and screening process for international students is designed to balance educational standards with diplomatic and administrative oversight, especially for students from politically sensitive regions.
