Permanently overtaken by the episodes of contempt for the laws of secularism, which in some places such as in schools translates into the prohibition of the Islamic headscarf by law since 2004, the French were able to feel a sense of satisfaction yesterday.

At last, with Gabriel Atal as prime minister, the state seems firmly determined to defend a stricter observance of the laws.

With his interview last night (Wednesday), the prime minister was placed on the “unallowable”, as he said, episode of cyber attack against the director of the Paris high school Maurice Ravel, who resigned on Monday out of fear for his life. The prime minister said that this time it is the state itself that will file a “defamatory complaint” lawsuit against the schoolgirl who started the episode.

The principal’s “sin” was that he asked the student to remove the headscarf, as required by law, before entering the school. She refused, complained of ill-treatment and with her friends, who apparently believe their religion is superior to French democracy, launched online threats against the director. He could not stand the barrage of threats and decided to resign. The issue shocked parents and colleagues, and the hierarchy decided to grant him early retirement, which was normally scheduled for June.

“No” to obscurantism

The memory of the murder of the two professors by Islamic students, in 2023 of French teacher Dominique Bernard, and also in 2020 with the beheading of History professor Samuel Paty, is fresh in France. So many approve the Prime Minister’s decision.

“The state, the institution” emphasized Gabriel Atal, “will always be next to those who are on the front line to deal with attacks against secularism and against Islamist infiltrations in our educational institutions.” Words reminiscent of a previous statement by President Macron that “the school should remain a bulwark against obscurantism and a refuge for students and teachers.”