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https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-en...amne-pour-des-posts-islamophobes-118048537394
His verbosity on Facebook cost P. his teaching job and a conviction. On Monday, the Police Court upheld a criminal order against the 50-year-old for racial discrimination and public provocation to crime and violence. Between June and July 2018, the defendant published numerous Islamophobic posts on Facebook. In front of the judge, he expressed regret, but claimed, unconvincingly, to have “attacked political Islam and not the Muslims.” He admitted, however, a “lack of nuance.”
Countering “happy globalism”
As for his motivations, P. denied having an “Islamophobic obsession,” simply claiming to have “wanted to counterbalance an almost totalitarian doxa of happy globalism.” He denied that he wanted to incite readers to violence against the target groups. His words earned the former teacher “who loved his job,” according to his father and his lawyer, an administrative investigation deemed “dependent” which led to his dismissal by the Department of Public Instruction (DIP). For P., now employed in a training center, this affair “destroyed my life. I am ashamed of my people, ashamed of having been ostracized and undergone a real social downgrading.”
Conviction confirmed
For his lawyer, Me Yves Nidegger, P. thus suffered a “triple sentence,” dismissed, sentenced and, as a consequence, a real “descent into hell.” The lawyer pointed out that his client thinks himself on the networks “in an area where he can express himself, like his colleagues on the other side.” He thought he was “authorized to have opinions.” Me Nidegger defended “political posts” and a desire to “slay ideas” to seek acquittal. But this was not successful. P. was sentenced to a 90-day fine of 100 fr. with three years of a suspended sentence.
Very rare cases
Questioned on this case, the DIP indicated that it “cannot tolerate the possibility of Islamophobic remarks on behalf of a teacher.” However, he is reassuring, stressing that “this type of situation is extremely rare, on the order of less than once a year.” The Department notes that teachers are generally attentive to their social role and their duty to set an example, showing, for “the overwhelming majority, an open-mindedness, respect for differences and their commitment to a school open to all in perfect harmony with the values of the DIP.”
In Geneva, the teaching profession is subject to a directive which entered into force in May 2020 and which regulates the restrictions on the freedom of expression of professors, to which they are fundamentally entitled. The latter “may be limited if the performance of the task or the maintenance of public confidence in the administration so requires,” according to the federal court. “A duty of secrecy is foreseen for civil servants and teachers”, which operates on a weighing of interests.
His verbosity on Facebook cost P. his teaching job and a conviction. On Monday, the Police Court upheld a criminal order against the 50-year-old for racial discrimination and public provocation to crime and violence. Between June and July 2018, the defendant published numerous Islamophobic posts on Facebook. In front of the judge, he expressed regret, but claimed, unconvincingly, to have “attacked political Islam and not the Muslims.” He admitted, however, a “lack of nuance.”
Countering “happy globalism”
As for his motivations, P. denied having an “Islamophobic obsession,” simply claiming to have “wanted to counterbalance an almost totalitarian doxa of happy globalism.” He denied that he wanted to incite readers to violence against the target groups. His words earned the former teacher “who loved his job,” according to his father and his lawyer, an administrative investigation deemed “dependent” which led to his dismissal by the Department of Public Instruction (DIP). For P., now employed in a training center, this affair “destroyed my life. I am ashamed of my people, ashamed of having been ostracized and undergone a real social downgrading.”
Conviction confirmed
For his lawyer, Me Yves Nidegger, P. thus suffered a “triple sentence,” dismissed, sentenced and, as a consequence, a real “descent into hell.” The lawyer pointed out that his client thinks himself on the networks “in an area where he can express himself, like his colleagues on the other side.” He thought he was “authorized to have opinions.” Me Nidegger defended “political posts” and a desire to “slay ideas” to seek acquittal. But this was not successful. P. was sentenced to a 90-day fine of 100 fr. with three years of a suspended sentence.
Very rare cases
Questioned on this case, the DIP indicated that it “cannot tolerate the possibility of Islamophobic remarks on behalf of a teacher.” However, he is reassuring, stressing that “this type of situation is extremely rare, on the order of less than once a year.” The Department notes that teachers are generally attentive to their social role and their duty to set an example, showing, for “the overwhelming majority, an open-mindedness, respect for differences and their commitment to a school open to all in perfect harmony with the values of the DIP.”
In Geneva, the teaching profession is subject to a directive which entered into force in May 2020 and which regulates the restrictions on the freedom of expression of professors, to which they are fundamentally entitled. The latter “may be limited if the performance of the task or the maintenance of public confidence in the administration so requires,” according to the federal court. “A duty of secrecy is foreseen for civil servants and teachers”, which operates on a weighing of interests.
