A prominent French academic specializing in the Middle East, Fabrice Balanche, has vowed to continue his teaching despite being ejected from his own lecture by pro-Palestinian protesters. Balanche, an associate professor and research director at the University of Lyon 2, was confronted last week by approximately 20 individuals who accused him of racism and alleged ties to the ousted Bashar Assad regime in Syria.
During the protest, the demonstrators shouted pro-Palestinian slogans and surrounded Balanche, hurling insults that labeled him as “pro-Israeli” and “genocidal.” In an interview with RMC TV, he recounted the chaotic scene, stating, “When I heard that, I left the lecture hall. They tried to chase me, but fortunately, I had students who intervened.”
Balanche confirmed he would file a complaint regarding the incident but intends to resume his courses on Tuesday, with a university security agent present for protection. “I plan to continue my classes normally,” he affirmed, emphasizing that it was “out of the question” to relocate his lectures to another campus.
Known for his expertise on Syria during the civil war, Balanche has consistently rejected accusations of bias in favor of the Assad regime, which was ousted in late 2024. The incident has drawn significant attention, prompting France’s right-leaning government to defend him. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou condemned the “unacceptable pressure” faced by Balanche in an interview with Le Parisien.
French authorities indicated that the protests were partly motivated by Balanche’s support for the university’s decision to prohibit a fast-breaking Ramadan meal on campus. However, the group calling itself Autonomes de Lyon 2 denied this claim, accusing Balanche of holding “unacceptable positions on Palestine and Syria.”
France’s Higher Education Minister, Philippe Baptiste, described the incident as “serious,” pledging that both the judiciary and the university would address these “unacceptable acts” with firmness.
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