“We are facing a movement of the heart”, believes criminal lawyer Henri Leclerc

The honorary president of the Human Rights League judges that the student population has always demonstrated “for those who are crushed.”

“We are facing a movement of the heart”said Friday May 3 on France Inter, lawyer Henri Leclerc, honorary president of the Human Rights League, regarding the pro-Palestinian mobilizations of students on French campuses.

“It’s an impulse from the heart and a political position: these people have the right to something”, says Henri Leclerc. Sciences Po Paris announced Thursday evening the closure of its main premises due to a new occupation by a few students after an internal debate. Several mobilizations in support of the Palestinian population are underway or planned for this Friday, May 3, such as at the Lille School of Journalism (ESJ) or on the Grenoble campus. “What is currently happening in Gaza is shocking”continues the criminal lawyer. “No one disputes the fact that October 7 is an absolute horror, a barbaric act. But the response given is appalling with these massacred civilian populations, these people who are taking refuge everywhere, this humanitarian aid which is not arriving. It is happening something horrible”he emphasizes.

“The student population has always shown an outpouring of heart, always for those who are crushed, rarely for the authoritarians”

Henri Leclerc, criminal lawyer

at franceinfo

Not an anti-Semitic movement

Like the United States, where the mobilization of pro-Gaza students ignites political debate, the activism of pro-Gaza students is accused of fueling anti-Semitism on French campuses. “I do not currently believe that we are dealing with an anti-Semitic movement”says Henri Leclerc, recalling that for him, anti-Semitism is a “fight” since his childhood. “I don’t believe at all that anti-Semitism currently dominates in France”he continues. “Certainly, there are anti-Semites, there have always been some. Perhaps there are a little more of them today. Perhaps they have other foundations than those of the anti-Semitism of the past. But I think they are a very small minority.”he emphasizes.

The honorary president of the Human Rights League also returned to the intervention of the police at Sciences Po Paris on Friday and at the Sorbonne on Monday to evacuate activists who had set up tents inside from Parisian University. “From the moment there is a clash between the police and the students, it is a historical and constant fact, that is when things degenerate”points out the criminal lawyer.