According to «Libération», the Iliad Institute, an extreme right-wing think tank, wants to create a club «reserved for Europeans» in Paris. The police prefecture has reported this to the public prosecutor. While SOS Racisme and Ian Brossat denounce a racist project, the think tank argues a «semantic shift.»
Laurent Nuñez, the police prefect, has informed the Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau «about the risks of discrimination and public order disturbance posed by the creation of a club reserved ‘for Europeans’«, as stated by SOS Racisme in a press release published on Monday. This announcement follows an article in Libération, which reveals the project of a private club promoted by the Iliad Institute for the long memory of Europe, an extreme right-wing «identity circle».
The newspaper says it has seen a brochure mentioning a «meeting place for Europeans«. «In other words, for white people, if we follow the reasoning«, notes the Libération article. According to the newspaper, the brochure was distributed during a gala dinner organized on November 23 by the Iliad Institute, in a private mansion in the 3rd arrondissement. The event reportedly brought together personalities such as Alice Cordier, president of the Némésis Collective, an extreme right-wing militant group claiming feminism, as well as Anne Sicard, a deputy from Val-d’Oise associated with the Rassemblement National group in the Assembly.
According to Libération, the club, «supposed to open in May 2025 in a 220 square meter space rented in Paris«, aims to «host various events» and will include a bookshop, a conference room, and a bar.
The police prefecture confirms to France 3 Paris Île-de-France that Laurent Nuñez made a report to the prosecutor on February 19, «under article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for acts of incitement to discrimination that may be committed by the Iliad Institute«.
SOS Racisme, which claims to have initiated the report with Paris Senator Ian Brossat (PCF), points out a project «manifestly illegal under Article 225-1 of the Penal Code, which prohibits any distinction between individuals based on their real or supposed origin and affiliation or non-affiliation to an ethnicity, a nation, an alleged race or religion«.
On his part, Ian Brossat denounces «a particularly shocking initiative«. «Everything shows that it violates the law. We are in France, in the Republic, not in South Africa during apartheid. One cannot deny access to a place or an event based on the ethnic origins of people. This is a purely discriminatory initiative. These people are obsessed with race and believe that a part of French society should be excluded. We must react«, explains the elected official.
SOS Racisme also recalls that the Iliad Institute was founded in 2014 «following the suicide of Dominique Venner, a non-commissioned officer during the Algerian War, a militant in the 1950s with Jeune Nation – a neo-fascist group – and then a member of the OAS«, the Secret Armed Organization, a clandestine terrorist group close to the extreme right that defended French presence in Algeria. According to the anti-racist association, the Iliad Institute «promotes identity retreat logics, a trivialization of hatred, and unapologetic racism«.
Contacted, the Iliad Institute states that it is not aware of the report made by the police prefecture to the prosecutor, and claims that «there has never been a project for a club ‘reserved’ for Europeans«. Claude Chollet, the secretary of the think tank, points out a «gesture» and «a lot of vagueness«. «Between a circle open to Europeans and a circle reserved for whites, there is a semantic shift that is difficult to grasp«, he says.
Claude Chollet confirms the club project, mentioning the refusals the think tank faces when trying to book venues for events. «It is about being able to host conferences open to Europeans and all lovers of Europe, whether they are white, green, yellow, or red. After all, we are in Europe, it is not forbidden. A club is dedicated to those who gather there by affinity, to buy a book, have a drink, or listen to a conference. It doesn’t go further,» continues the secretary.
He admits that the project now has «a bit of a setback» following the article in Liberation, and announces that the club could «maybe open in 2026.» While he finds the term «ethno-differentialist» rather flattering to describe the ideas of the think tank, he rejects the qualifiers of «far-right» or «identitarian,» which he considers «demonizing.» On its website, the Iliad Institute states, «it now falls to the justice system to do its job,» says Ian Brossat.
Laurent Nuñez, the police prefect, has informed the Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau «of the risks of discrimination and public order violations represented by the creation of a club reserved ‘for Europeans’,» SOS Racisme said in a statement released Monday. This announcement comes after an article in Liberation, which reveals the project of a private club led by the Iliad Institute for the long European memory, an extreme right-wing «identitarian circle.»
According to Liberation, the club, «supposed to open in May 2025 in a 220 square meter space rented in Paris,» aims to «host various events» and will include a bookshop, a conference room, and a bar.
The police prefecture confirms to France 3 Paris Île-de-France that Laurent Nuñez made a report on February 19 to the prosecutor, «under article 40 of the code of criminal procedure, for acts of provocation to discrimination likely to be committed by the Iliad Institute.»
SOS Racisme, which says it initiated the report with Paris Senator Ian Brossat (PCF), points out a project «of blatant illegality in light of article 225-1 of the Penal Code which prohibits any distinction between individuals based on their origin and their real or supposed belonging or non-belonging to an ethnic group, a nation, a so-called race, or religion.»
For his part, Ian Brossat denounces «a particularly shocking initiative.» «Everything shows that it violates the law. We are in France, in a Republic, not in South Africa during apartheid. We cannot ban access to a place or an event based on the ethnic origins of people. It is a purely discriminatory initiative. These people are obsessed with race and believe that a part of French society should be left aside. We must react,» explains the elected official.
SOS Racisme also recalls that the Iliad Institute was founded in 2014 «following the suicide of Dominique Venner, a non-commissioned officer during the Algerian War, a militant in the 1950s with Jeune Nation – a neo-fascist group – then a member of the OAS, the secret armed organization, a clandestine terrorist group close to the far right that defended the French presence in Algeria. D’après l’association antiraciste, l’Institut Iliade promeut des idéologies de repli identitaire, banalise la haine et encourage un racisme sans complexes. L’Institut Iliade affirme ne pas être au courant de la démarche judiciaire entreprise par la préfecture de police et déclare qu’il n’a jamais eu l’intention de créer un club réservé aux Européens. Claude Chollet, secrétaire du think tank, qualifie cette situation de gesticulation et source de confusion. Il souligne la subtilité sémantique entre un cercle ouvert aux Européens et un cercle réservé aux blancs, estimant que c’est difficile à comprendre.
Claude Chollet confirme l’existence du projet de club, mentionnant les refus rencontrés lors de tentatives de réservation de salles pour des événements. Il explique que l’objectif est d’accueillir des conférences ouvertes à tous les Européens et aux amoureux de l’Europe, qu’ils soient blancs, verts, jaunes ou rouges. Il souligne que l’Europe est un lieu ouvert à tous et que le club vise simplement à réunir des personnes partageant des affinités pour des activités communes. Il admet que le projet a été affecté par les récentes critiques et envisage une ouverture éventuelle en 2026.
Bien qu’il considère le terme «ethno-différentialiste» flatteur pour décrire les idées du think tank, Claude Chollet rejette les étiquettes d’extrême droite ou identitaire, les jugeant diabolisantes. Malgré cela, l’Institut Iliade affiche sur son site son soutien à ceux qui s’opposent au concept du Grand Remplacement, une théorie complotiste d’extrême droite. Ian Brossat souligne que c’est désormais à la justice de prendre le relais. Selon les médias, l’événement a rassemblé des personnalités telles que Alice Cordier, présidente du Collectif Némésis, un groupe militant d’extrême droite se réclamant du féminisme, ainsi que Anne Sicard, une députée du Val-d’Oise affiliée au groupe Rassemblement national à l’Assemblée.
D’après Libération, le club, «censé ouvrir en mai 2025 dans un local de 220 mètres carrés loué à Paris», a pour objectif d’accueillir divers événements et sera équipé d’une boutique de livres, d’une salle de conférences et d’un bar.
La préfecture de police a confirmé à France 3 Paris Île-de-France que Laurent Nuñez a fait un signalement au parquet le 19 février, «au titre de l’article 40 du code de procédure pénale, pour des faits de provocation à la discrimination susceptibles d’être commis par l’Institut Iliade».
SOS Racisme et le sénateur parisien Ian Brossat ont souligné un projet qu’ils estiment illégal en vertu de l’article 225-1 du Code pénal, qui interdit toute distinction entre les personnes basée sur leur origine ethnique. Ils dénoncent une initiative discriminatoire et appellent à réagir.
L’Institut Iliade, contacté, affirme ne pas être au courant du signalement au parquet et nie tout projet de club réservé aux Européens. Son secrétaire, Claude Chollet, reconnaît le projet de club mais critique la réaction de la préfecture de police. Il affirme que le club est ouvert à tous et nie les accusations de discrimination.
Malgré les obstacles rencontrés, l’Institut Iliade envisage toujours d’ouvrir le club, peut-être en 2026. Il rejette les étiquettes d’extrême droite ou identitaire, préférant se qualifier d’ethno-différentialiste. L’Institut Iliade est critiqué pour ses idées jugées complotistes et racistes, et SOS Racisme appelle à une intervention de la justice. Please rewrite the statement.
SOURCE
Deja una respuesta