Background on the Student and Her Accusations
Nour Attaalah, a 25-year-old Palestinian student from Gaza, was accused of posting anti-Semitic content on social media while studying in France under a French government scholarship program for Gazan students. The controversy led to the revocation of her university enrollment at Sciences Po in Lille.
Key Events and Timeline
- July 11: Attaalah arrived in France with a student visa and government scholarship.
- September: Screenshots of her alleged posts, shared by pro-Israel accounts on Twitter, surfaced. These posts included an image of Adolf Hitler and language perceived as inciting violence against Jews.
- Investigation and Decision: The French government suspended the Palestinian student program pending an investigation into how Attaalah gained entry to France.
- October: Following the French Interior Minister’s demand for her social media account’s removal, Attaalah left France for Qatar to continue her studies.
Reactions and Statements
French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, emphasized the unacceptable nature of Attaalah’s statements before her arrival in France. Barrot stated, “Nour Attaalah could not remain on French territory given the gravity of her declarations. She left France today to travel to Qatar, where she will continue her studies.”
Attaalah’s lawyer, Ossama Dahmane, confirmed her decision to pursue studies elsewhere in accordance with the Minister’s instructions. However, Dahmane noted that she “firmly contests all the accusations leveled against her.” He added, “The alleged offenses mainly concern retweeted content devoid of context.”
Impact on the French Government Program
In response to the controversy, France suspended its program to host Palestinian students from Gaza pending the investigation’s outcome. The incident has raised questions about vetting procedures for international students and the potential spread of hate speech through social media.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Nour Attaalah? A 25-year-old Palestinian student from Gaza studying in France on a French government scholarship.
- What were the accusations against her? Attaalah was accused of sharing anti-Semitic content on social media, including images of Adolf Hitler and language inciting violence against Jews.
- What actions were taken by the French government? The French government revoked Attaalah’s university enrollment, demanded the removal of her social media account, and suspended its program for Palestinian students from Gaza.
- Where did Attaalah go after leaving France? She traveled to Qatar to continue her studies.
