The Grenoble Institute of Political Studies (IEP) once again in the spotlight and, again, for a story that it would have gone well without.
In March, two of his teachers were accused of Islamophobia.
Six months later, the Isère establishment found itself caught up in a controversy on the grounds that its canteen would now distribute only halal food.
The news quickly unleashed passions, and this new "affair" has been watering the arguments of the far right for more than 24 hours.
What happened ?
At the start of the week, the student association Cafet en Kit, in charge of the IEP Grenoble cafeteria and approved by this establishment, announced in a message posted on its Facebook and Instagram accounts that it will now offer a range of "100% halal" products.
đź”´ Here is the post of the association "Cafet en kit" announcing the exclusively halal meat offer, in addition to vegetarian dishes, in the IEP of Grenoble.
This Facebook post was deleted after protests from the #Uni association, which has since asked for a reaction from the school.
In vain?
pic.twitter.com/Z2CEioCWtS
- Amaury Bucco (@AmauryBucco) October 21, 2021
The enthusiastic message is quickly deleted from the account, but too late: it has already been relayed by some activists and, in the first place, by the National Interuniversity Union (UNI).
The national delegate of this student union associated with the right multiplies the interventions in television and radio broadcasts to denounce a supposed “submission to the woke ideology”, a current of thought presented by his detractors as advocating by all means a social justice, including by sacrificing certain individual freedoms or secularism.
The fuse is on.
Halal menu in Grenoble: the measure is part of the "submission of France to the woke ideology" according to the national delegate of the right-wing student union UNI, in #LaMatinale pic.twitter.com/ue9OZudxpY
- CNEWS (@CNEWS) October 21, 2021
After the student union, the political sphere of the extreme right seizes the subject.
Since Wednesday, some media, broadcasts and televised debates have echoed the controversy to a large extent.
The rumor of a 100% halal canteen in a large French school feeds the most complex theories of a "great replacement".
What does Sciences-po Grenoble answer?
It took more than 24 hours for the management of the IEP to come out of the silence.
This one published a press release this Thursday evening in which it firstly recalls that it ensures a "secular education and independent of any political, economic, religious or ideological influence, tending to the objectivity of knowledge, respecting diversity opinions ”.
Sciences-po then explains that Cafet en Kit simply “wanted to communicate on their recent discovery: the products supplied are halal. In reality, only 1/3 of the products supplied by this bakery and sold by Cafét en Kit are halal ”. In addition, the IEP affirms that the choice of this new supplier was not motivated by this criterion, but by the "practical (delivery), sanitary (cold chain), economic (value for money) constraints" to which it respond.
"The information circulating is therefore false", adds the IEP which, while defending the association, also highlights "autonomy" and "the responsibility of students" in their associative activities.
Sciences-po also evokes "the right to make mistakes of young students who are confronted with the management of a private associative activity (…) within a public establishment".
How did the association react?
This argument was also used by the association itself, which in turn published a press release this Thursday evening, apologizing and assuring that it had undertaken to respect "the obligation of neutrality and secularism ”.
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A post shared by La Cafet 'en Kit (@cafetenkit)
If Sciences-po does not indicate having convened the members of the association, the simultaneity of the press releases relating to this controversy and their content suggest that a development has indeed taken place.
"The principles of secularism and neutrality must be respected within Sciences-po Grenoble - UGA and no denominational food can be served there", recalls the IEP, which specifies that Cafet en Kit "is" is therefore committed to complying with its obligation to respect these principles ”.
A complaint filed
Now it's time to counter-attack. Also this Thursday evening, the director of Sciences-po Grenoble, Sabine Saurugger, spoke in a separate press release, signed in her name, to denounce "the multiple attacks" targeting her establishment "on social networks and in certain media. ". "On behalf of Sciences-po Grenoble, I filed a complaint against the people who relayed this information," she announces.
Quietly, the director of Sciences-po also recognizes a hiccup in the announcement of a 100% halal cafeteria.
"Respect for the principle of secularism and neutrality does not allow a denominational type of food to be served at the IEP", she admits, suggesting that the autonomy of the association did not lead to the management. to learn about this new feature.
"The Director of Legal Affairs is responsible for examining the legality of the device and measures will be taken accordingly," says Sabine Saurugger.
