We, the undersigned, express our solidarity with our colleague François Burgat, a prominent academic who stands trial for apology for terrorism in France. His first court date was on April 24, 2025, a few days after French president Emmanuel Macron, in reaction to the Trump administration’s war on academic freedom, called international researchers to “choose France.”
François Burgat, an internationally acclaimed specialist of the Middle East, is accused by the French police of praising Hamas in a series of tweets, some of which are literal reprints of results he published years ago in an academic volume. On April 24, 2025, the French prosecutor requested an eight months suspended sentence, a 4,000 euros fine, a two year ineligibility, and a ban from social media. The court will render its decision on May 28, 2025. We express our support to François Burgat and others who have similarly been targeted by unprecedented levels of repression against pro-Palestine speech in France. We also note that putting a social scientist on trial for speaking out on his expertise does not bode well for those researchers who might “choose France” to escape the U.S. administration’s wrath.
The source of the White House’s ire toward universities is a wave of pro-Palestine student protest against Israel’s current war on Gaza. Through his Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, the U.S. president has accused Harvard, Columbia, and other institutions of higher education of violating the civil rights of Jewish students. This move opened the floodgates for a punitive campaign on science and scientists, accused of being too liberal or too “woke” by the current U.S. leadership. Coupled with unlawful detentions of pro-Palestine foreign students, large cuts — or threats of cuts — in federal research funding have caused turmoil in U.S. academia and beyond. Middle Eastern studies, and those studying Palestine-Israel, were the canary in the U.S. academic coal mine.
“France is committed to standing up to attacks on academic freedom across the globe,” the French National Agency for Research (ANR) said a few days ago. Yet the French territory, where the executive has repeatedly attacked academic freedom and the freedom of expression, seems to be an exception to this principled stance. On October 9, 2023, the French higher education minister pressed university presidents to signal any apology for terrorism to prosecutors. The next day, the justice minister asked all prosecutors to “firmly and swiftly” bring charges against “public statements praising the [October 7, 2023] attacks, presenting them as legitimate resistance to Israel, or the public dissemination of messages leading to a favorable opinion of Hamas or the Islamic Jihad because of the attacks they organized”. As a result, hundreds of apology for terrorism charges were filed against students, activists, academics, and other citizens, including 626 between October 7, 2023 and January 30, 2024 alone.
Before 2014, apology for terrorism was seen as a freedom of expression abuse and was included in the press law, which made it procedurally harder to prosecute or repress it. A November 13, 2014 antiterrorism law made prosecution faster and easier, extended the statute of limitations from three months to three years, allowed police forces to keep suspects in custody, and punished apology for terrorism — along with incitement to terrorism — with long prison terms (up to seven years) and hefty fines (up to 100,000 euros, or about $115,000). That the 2014 law is now used to repress political opinions, and in particular those favorable to the Palestinians, reportedly shocked even its author, the former French interior minister.
We find it deeply concerning that a social scientist who spent most of his career studying the mechanisms of Islamist radicalization be prosecuted for apology for terrorism. We believe that this dangerous curtailment of basic academic freedoms threatens French academia as a whole. Beside discouraging foreign researchers who may “choose France,” it could also scare away those scientists who, currently working in France, might find other academic environments less punishing. Above all we fear that, if the hard right wins the next French presidential elections, the absurd shift from fighting antisemitism to defunding science, which in the United States started with a full on attack on Middle Eastern studies, might also happen here. If this is the case, more than presidential wooing will be needed to lure foreign academics to a place where “a single tag in support for Palestine may land you in jail.”
Signatories:
- Sari Hanafi, Professor of Sociology, American University of Beirut
- Saidi Nordine, Bruxelles Panthères and Mouvement Citoyen Palestine
- Aurora Sottimano, Senior fellow, St Andrews university
- Mohamad Amir Nasher Alneam, Writer
- Chakib Ararou, PhD student, IREMAM, Aix-Marseille Université
- Ammar Beetar, Psychiatrist
- Francesco Correale, CNRS - UMR 7324 CITERES, Tours
- Ghiath Khalil, Teacher
- Elisabete Goncalves, French citizen
- Raihan Ismail, University of Oxford
- Marta Tawil-Kuri, Research Professor, El Colegio de México
- Dina El Khawaga, Professor, Cairo University
- Marc Deballon, Retired Civil Servant, French Ministry of Finance
- Muriam Haleh Davis, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Pascal Menoret, Professor, University of Oxford
- Abdesamad Chafik
- Catherine Albertini, Researcher, INRAE
- Zakaria B, Software Developer, Canada
- Michel Hourie, Retiree
- François Gourci, Jobseeker
- Stéphanie Pouessel, Anthropologist, Tunisia
- Francois Gallet, Architect
- KC Li
- Ibrahim Bechrouri, Adjunct Assistant Professor, CUNY
- Michelle Aldon, Activist
- Malak Labib, IFAO, Cairo
- Habib Ben Rayana, Senior Lecturer
- Muhammed Affan, Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations
- Anonymous
- Didier Foch
- Cellou Diallo
- Tarik Laangry, Teacher
- Amir, Citizen
- Hana Jaber, Executive director, Lokman Slim Foundation
- Alain Gresh, Journalist
- Mohand Khemchane, Consultant, Project Director
- Nadia Meziane , Lignes de Crêtes
- Brooke Maddux, Psychiatrist, PhD Student, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
- Stéphanie Latte Abdallah, Research Director, CNRS
- Paul Dresch, Emeritus Fellow, St John's College, University of Oxford
- Catherine David, Art Historian
- John L. Esposito, Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University
- Judith Tucker, Professor Emerita, Georgetown University
- Walter Armbrust, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford
- Nadhir Ben Ammou, Barrister, Law Professor, Faculté de droit et des sciences politiques de Tunis
- Sid-Ali Belmehal, Barrister
- Judith Scheele, EHESS, Paris
- Jean-François Pétillot, Retiree
- Brigitte Trincard-Tahhan, Emerita Professor
- Siham Djafer, Teacher
- Loïc Le Pape, Assistant Professor, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
- Olfa Lamloum
- Christophe Accardo
- Jerome Goodman, Teacher
- Emna, Retired civil servant, French social security
- Anonymous
- Damiano De Facci, Phd Sociology, IRISSO
- Maryam Ben Salem, Professor of Political Science, Université de Carthage
- Laura Ruiz de Elvira, Researcher, IRD
- Thomas Crespo, Teacher
- Lucie Ryzova, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham
- Rachida Dumas
- Nadia Farouki
- Nasser, University of Mosul
- Ted Swedenburg, Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas
- Hervé Mayer, Professor
- A. E.
- Jean-Luc Kop, Professor, Researcher
- Frédéric Falzon, Certified Teacher, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Aix-Marseille
- Gennaro Gervasio, Associate Professor, Roma Tre University
- Txell Bragulat, SODEPAU
- Claire Beaugrand, CNRS, University of Exeter
- Véronique Bontemps, Researcher, CNRS
- Samir, Person
- Charlotte Courreye, Université Lyon 3
- Olivier Fillieule, Professor, Université de Lausanne
- Daniel Meier, Assistant Professor, Sciences Po Grenoble
- Enrico De Angelis, Independent Researcher
- Monique Barbier, Physician
- Laurent Bonnefoy, Researcher, CNRS
- Faris Lounis, Journalist
- Clemence Scalbert, SL, University of Exeter
- Adlene Mohammedi, Professor, Researcher
- Bjørn Olav Utvik, University of Oslo
- Jane Haug Skjoldli, Associate Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Talal Al-Rashoud, Assistant Professor of History, Kuwait University
- Michel Camau, Emeritus Professor of Political Science
- Christian Henderson, Assistant professor, Leiden University
- Bekhechi Nabila, Independent Researcher
- Nicolas Puig, Researcher, IRD
- Cécile Boëx, EHESS, Paris
- Richard Jacquemond, Professor, Aix-Marseille Université, Former Director of IREMAM
- Najate Barji
- Myriam Ababsa, Researcher, IFPO
- Viviane Candas, Filmmaker
- Brigitte Foulon, Emerita Professor, Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris
- Habib Ben Rayana, Senior Lecturer
- Patrice Chevalier, Consultant
- Philippe Guiguet Bologne, Writer, Poet
- Zahia Hadj, Alumna, IEP Aix-en-Provence
- Guy Corbi, Retiree
- Martin Toft, Editor, University of Oslo
- Hélène Deghilage, Artist, Painter
- Sophie Gallois, Teacher, Arabic language and literature, France
- Adlene Mohammedi, Researcher and teacher in geopolitical studies, Paris
- Miguel Larramendi, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha
- Alexandra Baraille, Teacher
- Marie Besse, Professor, Université de Genève
- Aude Signoles, Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence
- Adrien Zakar, University of Toronto
- Roques, Teacher
- Najar Lotif, Teacher
- Virgil Bouchal, Physical Person
- Matthieu Lemarchal, Jobseeker
- Ester Sigillò, University of Bologna
- Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen, Professor, University of Copenhagen
- Farida Khacef
- Caroline Matusiak
- Yassine El Bouchikhi, Professor of Marketing, Al-Akhawayn University
- Abd Raouf Chouikha, Emeritus Professor, University Paris-Sorbonne
- Emmanuel Lavieuville
- Simon Dawes, Professor, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
- Roshdi Rashed, Research Director, CNRS, Université Paris-Cité
- Nachet Mohamed, Professor, Morocco
- Florent Pinguet, Employee
- Helmi Maatallah, Professor
- Sylvain Cypel, Journalist, Orient XXI
- Morgan Clarke, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Oxford
- Anonymous
- Helen Lackner, Independent Researcher
- Bruno Richard, Physician
- Dilek Yankaya, Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence
- Marie Andrieux
- Nadine Acoury, Citizen
- Anonymous
- Thierry Rendamme, Retiree
- Omar Bendourou, Professor
- Anne Cadier, Clinical Psychologist
- Mehdi Labzaé, Researcher, CNRS
- Anonymous
- Kamil Mahdi
- Valentina Napolitano, Researcher, IRD, Aix-Marseille University
- Kessaissia Djillali, Teacher
- Waseem Ahmed, PhD student, University College London
- Hatsuki Aishima, Associate Professor, National Museum of Ethnology, Japan
- Clement M. Henry, Emeritus Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin
- Geraldine Chatelard, Anthropologist
- Nivine Kanâan, Journalist
- Rowland Atkinson, Professor, University of Sheffield
- Henri Lombardi, Emeritus Professor, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur
- Nicola Pratt, Professor of International Politics of the Middle East, University of Warwick
- Marilyn Booth, Emerita Professor, Magdalen College, University of Oxford
- Jessica Northey, Coventry University
- Professor Kate Hardy, University of Leeds
- Assaf Dahdah, Researcher, CNRS
- Rabea Khan, Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University
- Nicholas Matheou, Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
- Fathi Sruor Mallah
- Anja Komatar, Maths Support Advisor, University of Leeds
- Shaira Vadasaria, Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
- Sara Ababneh, Lecturer in International Relations, University of Sheffield
- Tamara Tamimi, PhD candidate, Queen's University Belfast
- Sharri Plonski, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Queen Mary University of London
- Lisa Stampnitzky, University of Sheffield
- Catherine Charrett, Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster
- Maryam Aldossari, Senior Lecturer, Royal Holloway, University of London
- Gabriella Ibba, PhD Candidate
- Saliha, Alumna, EHESS, Paris
- Madina Thiam, Assistant Professor of History, New York University
- Lina Soufan
- Jeremy Johns, Emeritus Professor, University of Oxford
- Hala Osman, Writer
- Jill Daniels, Senior Lecturer, University of East London
- MX Petrovich, Princeton University alumna
- Sertaç Sehlikoglu, Associate Professor, UCL
- Dan Bouk, Professor, Colgate University
- Claire Walsh, Collections Curator, University of Edinburgh
- Jennifer Weier
- Jessy Bali
- Nadia Silhi Chahin, University of Edinburgh
- Giada Costantini, University of Birmingham
- Rocco Caprio, PhD Student, University of Warwick
- Pietro Stefanini, Tutor, University of Edinburgh
- Andrew Delatolla, Lecturer, University of Leeds
- Hebatallah Tolba, PHD Candidate
- Anthony Gorman, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
- Liliane Kaczerginski Cordova, Educator
- Myriam Bousbia, Professional Services, University of Edinburgh
- Marc Azar
- Khairieh Amr
- Laura Morreale, University of Perugia
- Muireann O'Dwyer, Lecturer, University of St Andrews
- Uri Horesh, Lecturer in Arabic, University of St Andrews
- Viviane Saglier, Lecturer, University of St Andrews
- Marwa Mouazen, Lecturer, Edinburgh University
- Rims Rihawi
- Savannah Whaley, Lecturer, University of St Andrews
- Adnène Ennaïfer, father of two kids, future citizens
- Ghada, Lecturer, King Khaled University
- Eugene Rogan, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Oxford
- Camille Dasseleer, PhD Candidate, UCLouvain
- Walid Galal El Dine, Microelectronics Engineer, France
- Ryan Swan, PhD candidate, University of St Andrews
- Arnaud Selve, Architect
- Andrew Shryock, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan
- Vincent Cauche
- Fred Wojnarowski, Postdoctoral Researcher, LSE
- Camila Costa, Researcher, UECE (Universidade Estadual do Ceará), Brazil
- Thanh-Van Tran-Nhut, Writer / Engineer
- Martine Gillet
- Zuzanna Olszewska, Associate Professor in the Social Anthropology of the Middle East, University of Oxford
- J.E. Peterson, Historian, Tucson, Arizona
- Ammara Masood, Associate Professor in Social Anthropology, University College London
- Thierry Girardot, Emeritus Professor, Municipal Council Member
- Jean-Paul Cazes, Historian, Archaeologist
- Kim Tran, Writer
- Joel Ropars, Engineer
- F. Germain
- Chihab El Khachab, Associate Professor in Visual Anthropology, University of Oxford
- William Crosby, PhD Student - University of the Arts, London
- Alexia de Tillesse
