Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat — The Al-Kindi school group, a Muslim private school in Décines-Charpieu, a commune in the region of Lyon in south-eastern France, is suing a French MP for defamation after the politician accused the school of “denying history” and not teaching students about the Holocaust.
The school strongly denies these accusations and says the politician’s claims are false and harmful, calling them “an attempt to smear its reputation.” The school further warned that it will not let “this lie go unpunished” and has filed a legal action.
Al-Kindi has defended its record in promoting historical awareness. The school organizes student visits to Holocaust sites, including a trip to Auschwitz, the local Holocaust remembrance site “Maison d’Izieu” and other memorials, as well as talks and projects on remembrance.
The lawsuit claims that Laurent Wauquiez, from the Les Républicains party, aims to stir controversy and influence the ongoing review of the school’s state funding.
Al-Kindi is the last Muslim private school in France operating under a state contract. It has been under heavy scrutiny from local authorities this year, facing multiple surprise inspections.
Officials accuse the school of financial and teaching irregularities, including claims that funds meant for state-approved classes were used for unapproved activities. They also say some of the school’s materials mention “jihad” in ways they find concerning and allege that certain books promote violence against homosexuality.
Read also: Moroccans Rank as Top Social Security Contributors In Spain
In response, Al Kindi administrators have dismissed the allegations while insisting that French officials are “obsessed” with Muslim schools.
The school has instead described the accusations as baseless, particularly rejecting the claims that some of its teaching materials promote extremism. It explains that the term “jihad” is presented in some texts as a personal or spiritual struggle, not as a call to violence.
Inspectors have previously criticized the school for its strict dress code, which bans makeup and inappropriate clothing for girls.
The National Federation for Muslim Private Schools (FNEM) has come out in support of Al-Kindi, accusing the government of targeting Muslim schools unfairly. It says Catholic schools under similar contracts do not face the same level of examination and inspection.
In a statement, FNEM President Makhlouf Mameche warned that removing the school’s contract could destroy years of hard work.
A meeting on 12 December allowed both sides to present arguments, with the school maintaining its determination to defend its good reputation and fight to keep its state funding to continue serving students.
