17 hours ago
French business School faces backlash over allegations of racism, Islamophobia
At emlyon business school, one of France's top-ranked business schools, several students have come forward with reports of discriminatory behavior during the 2023–2024 academic year, according to an investigation by Mediapart. After a long silence, voices are finally beginning to speak out.
«It's in your best interest—and mine—that the video doesn't leave the group», wrote the president of a powerful student association, exemplifying what some describe as a deeply entrenched «code of silence» within the institution.
One incident cited in the report occurred during a weekend trip organized by the Ski Club on June 8, 2024, where videos circulated showing scenes perceived as Islamophobic and racist. In one clip, students appear to mimic a Muslim prayer while music titled El Djihad plays in the background, with the phrase «PassAllah» overlaid on the screen. «We're afraid of being labeled as snitches and that this could fall back on racialized students in future classes. But this has to stop», one student told Mediapart. Another shared: «I was on a weekend away with classmates when I saw the posts. We saw hazing, Islamophobic content, even anti-Christian gestures... We were shocked».
The videos were reportedly shared with more than 1,500 students. While the school administration says it took action by disciplining certain individuals, it has remained vague about the nature of these measures. Two students were allegedly suspended from the Ski Club for the following year, but no public announcement was made.
Other reported incidents include anti-Arab slurs written on whiteboards, Algerian flag emojis posted in response to theft allegations, xenophobic comments during a student event, and even a controversial reenactment of the Berlin Conference. Though the school claims to have conducted investigations, it has at times concluded that no actionable evidence could be found.
«The school tells us this is unacceptable, but then asks if we really want to damage the reputation of our degree», one student said, highlighting the subtle pressure many feel to remain silent.
Despite these controversies, emlyon continues to perform well in national rankings. In October 2024, L'Étudiant ranked it second among French business schools. But for some students, these incidents reflect a «self-preserving system»—fueled by favoritism and a lack of transparency in how student associations are managed.
