Overview

• Nour Attaalah was ordered to leave France on August 3 after Sciences Po Lille authenticated her deleted social media posts praising Hitler and calling for violence against Jews.
• Lille prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation for condoning terrorism and assessing potential failures in vetting procedures.
• Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot froze France’s student evacuation program from Gaza pending the outcome of internal and judicial reviews.
• Attaalah’s lawyer, Ossama Dahmane, says she denies the accusations and chose to continue her studies in Qatar for security and conciliation.
• The case highlights a surge in antisemitic incidents in France since October 2023 and raises questions about balancing humanitarian rescues with national security.