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Lyon-2 President Faces Backlash Over Criticism of Attacked Professor

Isabelle von Bueltzingsloewen condemned the classroom assault but faulted Fabrice Balanche for his public commentary, prompting national outrage over academic freedom and university leadership.

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«La présence même de Balanche dans l’espace universitaire devient un affront aux yeux de militants pour qui l’université ne doit plus être un lieu de recherche libre, mais un instrument au service de luttes identitaires».
Fabrice Balanche a été interrompu le 1er avril par des militants propalestiniens pendant qu'il donnait cours à des élèves de Lyon-2.
Un tag « Tue un islamophobe » à l'entrée du bâtiment H, à l'université Lyon-2.

Overview

  • On April 1, masked militants from the radical group Lyon-2 Autonome disrupted Fabrice Balanche’s lecture, shouting insults and forcing him to leave the classroom.
  • The university president condemned the attack as unacceptable but controversially linked it to Balanche’s public statements on Gaza, accusing him of using divisive rhetoric.
  • Fabrice Balanche, a Middle East specialist, was granted functional protection by the university but has expressed dismay at the administration's lack of direct support.
  • Political figures, including François-Xavier Bellamy and Olivier Dussopt, criticized the president’s remarks, calling them a betrayal of academic freedom and solidarity with faculty.
  • The incident will be addressed at the university’s upcoming board meeting, as debates over secularism, campus radicalization, and leadership intensify in France's higher education landscape.