The Collège de France has canceled a colloquium scheduled for November 13 and 14 on Palestine, co-organized with a Qatar-funded institute, under pressure from the Ministry of Higher Education. The event, denounced by Licra as an 'anti-Zionist fair,' sparked significant controversy. The institution cited its neutrality and security concerns to justify the decision.
The colloquium titled 'La Palestine et l'Europe: poids du passé et dynamiques contemporaines' was set to take place at the Collège de France, a prestigious research institution. Co-organized by historian Henry Laurens and the Centre arabe de recherches et d'études politiques de Paris (Carep Paris), it was canceled on Sunday by the institution's administrator.
In a statement, the administrator explained: 'The administrator of the Collège de France finds himself obliged, as head of the institution responsible for the safety of people and property as well as the serenity of events held within the Collège de France, to cancel the event.' The institution reaffirmed its 'strict neutrality regarding political or ideological issues' and stated that it 'neither promotes, encourages, nor supports any form of activism.'
The cancellation followed controversy amplified by the Ligue internationale contre le racisme et l'antisémitisme (Licra), which labeled the event an 'anti-Zionist fair' and a 'misuse of a prestigious institution.' On Friday, Licra approached Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste.
The Carep Paris, funded by the Doha Institute and Qatar Charity NGO, is described by academic sources as 'the intellectual spearhead of the Muslim Brotherhood.' Its Paris director is Salam Kawakibi, and its scientific council includes François Burgat, known for controversial views, such as his 2024 tweet: 'I have infinitely, I mean infinitely more respect and consideration for the leaders of Hamas than for those of the State of Israel.'
A closing roundtable was to feature Josep Borrell, former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister, and Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Minister Philippe Baptiste praised the cancellation as 'responsible' on X: 'Defending academic freedom means defending a free, respectful, and plural debate. This is the message I conveyed to the Collège de France administrator in recent days.' CRIF President Yonathan Arfi welcomed it: 'the Collège de France has chosen responsibility over bias.' Conversely, MEP Rima Hassan criticized: 'Philippe Baptiste, minister of academic censorship.'