Paris: a professor at the Sorbonne draws a parallel between homosexuality and ... zoophilia

“I was taking my lecture in the lecture hall on family law,” says Marie

, 19, a second-year law student at the Parisian University Panthéon-Sorbonne.

“Usually, we can be 350 but because of the Covid, we were 70. Many students followed live by videoconference at home.

"

"What I'm going to say will take on a polemical tone"

Amar Mardirossian, professor of legal history at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, "one of the few at the university to teach in a magistrate's gown with red borders, specifies the student, began, on his platform, to tell us :

The facts took place Tuesday at 6 p.m., in the amphitheater of the René-Cassin center, rue Saint-Hippolyte, behind boulevard de Port-Royal (13th).

The teacher's lesson has been recorded.

Amar Mardirossian warns: “What I am going to say will take on a polemical tone.

"

“The professor compared homosexuality to bestiality,” continues Marie.

Then he said:

He also criticized transgender people.

It lasted a good half hour.

We didn't stop him anymore.

His words came out of nowhere.

It was more and more disjointed.

"

"We were shocked"

In the room, no one is saying a word, says the student.

“We looked at each other dazed. We were shocked.

At the break, a third of the students refused to return to the lecture hall.

On Wednesday, the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne took up this file which Professor Thomas Clay, interim president, would have gone well.

She sent her students a message in which the administrator “condemns” the remarks, speaks of discrimination and contacted the university's gender equality and non-discrimination referent.

# Paris1PanthéonSorbonne and its provisional administrator, Professor Thomas Clay, condemn the comments made yesterday in class by one of its tenured teachers.

- University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (@ SorbonneParis1) September 30, 2020

And this Thursday, a press release was sent to the media, in which the university "condemns the comments made in class by one of its tenured teachers".

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A message considered too short by some students, LGBT associations and the Student Union Federation (FSE) of Sorbonne Paris 1. Some are calling for the dismissal of the teacher.

"This is not the first slip", according to a student

The remarks deemed homophobic have "made the rounds of the university", then of social networks, tells Elisabeth.

"This is not the first slip of Amar Mardirossian, annoys Benjamin

, law student.

The administration is fully aware.

It has been nearly five years that the students have been giving back testimonies and that we question the university.

"

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Contacted this Thursday, the university replied that "Thomas Clay's agenda does not allow a telephone interview" but the communication services say that "no information or alert of this nature has been sent to the presidency of the university concerning this teacher ”.

And to insist: “The referent is seized of the file.

She will work independently and will submit her report shortly.

We are awaiting his conclusions.

"