The University of Lille (North) has canceled a conference on Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Rima Hassan scheduled for this Thursday. The university announced in a press release that "the conditions are no longer met to guarantee the serenity of the debates", due to the "worrying" rise in international tensions.
Many political leaders, particularly on the right - such as the president of the Hauts-de-France region Xavier Bertrand or the boss of LR Éric Ciotti - had demanded the cancellation of this attack. The Minister of Higher Education Sylvie Retailleau affirmed "to support the decision" of the University of Lille "on its legal foundations. There is no question here of political ideas, according to those close to the minister. The conference is organized by the student association "Free Palestine," whose logo shows a territory encompassing Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It will be held this Thursday evening at the "L'Impérial" room located rue d'Arras, a stone's throw from the parliamentary office of LFI deputy Adrien Quatennens.