«I’m leaving, for my safety and that of the students»

Almost no French newspaper wanted to write the name of the principal of the Maurice Ravel high school, the largest educational institution in Paris, 1800 students, many sections, scientific, social, technical, international sections. A way to protect Philippe Le Guillou (the name still remains on the high school website) who yesterday raised his arms: he announced to students and teachers that he is leaving, taking early retirement. The reason, however, is not tiredness, but fear. Death threats have been pouring in for a month: via social media, email, WhatsApp. The ghost of Samuel Paty, the professor beheaded on October 16, 2020, convinced him to give in. Paty was killed by a jihadist because he had shown Charlie Hebdo cartoons in class during a physical education course. Six months ago it was the turn of history teacher Dominique Bernard: stabbed in front of his high school by a radicalized former student.

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THE RECONSTRUCTION

Le Guillou is threatened with death because on February 28 a student accused him of having “yanked” her to force her to remove her veil and uncover her head, as has been required by law in France since 2004: no ostentatious religious signs at school. Since that February 28th, different versions have begun to circulate: that the principal shouted, that he slapped her (even she denied it), that he violently grabbed her by the shoulder when she not only refused to uncover her head, but he started talking to him in an insolent way, using first names. He and the school staff immediately denied everything. The complaints followed: that of the girl for violence, dismissed due to lack of evidence, and that of the principal for threats. The investigation continues and yesterday a 23-year-old was arrested for death threats. “I’m leaving, for my safety and that of the school,” the principal explained to the teachers, while the high school remains guarded by the police outside. The Paris authority did not hesitate to subscribe the few months he had left for his pension. An avalanche of reactions from the political class. Education Minister Nicole Belloubet was the first to go to Ravel as a sign of solidarity, denouncing “unacceptable attacks”. Yesterday Prime Minister Gabriel Attal even received the principal at Palazzo Matignon, while, from left to right, there was shouting about the “total failure” of the State towards “the fundamentalists”.

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