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The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘A supermarket for sexual predators': abuse scandal at elite boarding school shakes France
When 14-year-old Pascal Gélie saw a brochure for an elite French Catholic boarding school boasting swimming in summer and skiing in winter, he begged his parents to send him. He had just watched the American school drama Dead Poets Society and was expecting 'sport and friendship'. 'On the first night, I realised I'd made a terrible mistake,' said Gélie, now a 51-year-old office-worker in Bordeaux. 'There were 40 of us in a dormitory with decrepit mattresses. When I whispered to another boy for some toilet paper to take to the bathroom, the supervisor grabbed me by the face and pointed to the stone terrace outside. Someone told me to take my coat because you could be forced to stand outside for hours in the cold and damp. I was made to stand there all night.' He said: 'That was just the start: regular blows to the head, children hit so hard they were bloodied and knocked unconscious. I saw one boy's hair ripped out. One was hit so hard, he lost 40% of his hearing. Sometimes we would all be made to stand beside our beds for hours at night because someone whispered, or our beds were upturned with us in them. It was absolute terror.' Gélie is part of a group of former pupils at the private Catholic school, Notre-Dame de Bétharram, whose accounts of violence, rape and sexual assault have exposed what is thought to be the biggest school child abuse scandal in French history. The education minister, Élisabeth Borne, has called it a #MeTooSchools moment. A French parliamentary inquiry has heard months of testimony on Bétharram, which is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees near the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, and other private schools and children's homes across France. On Wednesday the inquiry is due to publish its report and 50 recommendations on preventing violence in education. It is expected to be damning on the French state's failure to protect children. The Bétharram scandal has also become a political challenge to the prime minister, François Bayrou, who sent several of his children to the school, where his wife also taught catechism. Bayrou's daughter, now 53, recently revealed she was brutally beaten on a summer camp linked to the school but did not tell her father. Bayrou, who was education minister from 1993 to 1997 and held local political roles, was questioned by the inquiry about whether he knew about abuse at Bétharram and covered it up. He said he had 'hidden nothing', saying his foes were leading a political campaign of 'destruction' against him. In total, 200 legal complaints have been filed accusing Bétharram priests and staff of physical or sexual abuse from 1957 to 2004. Ninety complaints allege sexual violence or rape. Two complaints have led to charges against a former supervisor over the alleged sexual assault of a minor in 2004 and alleged rape of a minor from 1991 to 1994. He has been placed in custody while the investigation continues. Many other accusations were past the time-limit for prosecution. Gélie said: 'We want a change in the law to remove time limits for reporting child abuse.' Boris, 51, who now works in events management, said: 'Bétharram was like a supermarket for sexual predators and those of us who were sexually abused or raped often had the same profile: vulnerable children with separated or deceased parents.' From a poor, single-parent family in Bordeaux, he was sent to Bétharram aged 13, ironically because his mother wanted to protect him; at 12, he had been targeted by a grooming gang in Bordeaux who befriended him at his local swimming pool and sexually abused him over several months. Boris, who did not want his surname published, said: 'My mother wanted to get me away from Bordeaux so we begged the Bétharram school principal for a place. To persuade him, I told him about the abuse I'd endured, including the horrible detail that my attacker always handed me an envelope containing 50 French francs [the equivalent of €7, or £6].' Six months after Boris was admitted to Bétharram, the same school principal, Pierre Silviet-Carricart, a priest, called him into his office on his 14th birthday and sexually assaulted him, he said. 'Then he handed me an envelope containing 50 francs,' Boris said. 'The cynicism and cruelty of that …' Carricart, was accused of targeting another 11-year-old pupil whose father had just died in a road collision. The boy's mother, Martine, arranged to travel to the school to collect him at 6am on the day of his father's funeral. Martine, now 71, who does not want her surname published, said: 'Before I arrived, Father Carricart woke my son and took him to the priests' shower-room where he told him to wash to look nice for the funeral. Then, in that bathroom, he submitted my son to a terrible sexual attack.' Martine's son did not tell her about the abuse but she noticed his extreme anguish. She said: 'At the crematorium, he was distraught. He lay on his father's coffin and tried to open it. He said: 'I want to go with Dad.'' A decade later, in 1997, aged 21, Martine's son was arrested for exposing himself. He broke down in police questioning and for the first time spoke about repeated sexual abuse at Bétharram. A police investigation was opened for rape and sexual assault of a minor. Carricart, who denied the allegations, was charged and placed in pre-trial detention. But to the surprise of the lead investigator on the case, Carricart was released after two weeks, and was subsequently allowed to move to Rome. After French police contacted him for questioning over a second complaint filed in 2000, Carricart killed himself. Bayrou was asked by the parliamentary inquiry whether he had sought information on the case from the investigating magistrate and potentially intervened. He denied intervening in any way. 'My son's life has been destroyed by this,' Martine said. 'At 49, he has no family life, no job. He has been in so many psychiatric units. His skin is damaged from constantly scrubbing himself.' The organisation of priests that ran the school at Bétharram said in March that it accepted responsibility for the 'suffering' of former pupils, and had launched an independent inquiry into what it called 'massive abuse' over decades. Meanwhile, Gélie and the French survivors group have launched their own appeal for anyone affected internationally to contact them. The Bétharram order was a missionary order present across the world, from the UK to Brazil, Thailand and Ivory Coast. 'We think this goes far beyond France,' Gélie said. Another of those grappling with what he called the 'lifelong impact' of the abuse is Laurent, a public sector worker who said he was sexually assaulted in a priest's office and was once punched unconscious for throwing a snowball in the wrong direction in the playground. He has filed a legal complaint for verbal and physical violence and sexual assault. 'The violence wasn't just a slap, it was being beaten to the point of unconsciousness,' said Laurent, now 56. 'In my two years at the school, it was constant humiliation, violence and assaults – the impact of that is lifelong. I'm speaking out now to make sure this can never happen to any child again.' In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
Euronews
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Cancelled ‘Beauty and the Beast' book 'finally' released in France
A modern retelling of the 1756 fairytale "La Belle et la Bête" ('Beauty and the Beast') is published in France today, three months after the French Education Ministry called it inappropriate for children. The new illustrated rendition, written by cartoonist Jul, comes to bookstores with a red banner on its cover saying: 'Enfin!' ('Finally!'). The French government had originally commissioned the text as part of its annual 'A book for the holidays' campaign, through which 800,000 pupils receive a copy of an updated literary classic to read over the summer. The book was ready for its first print run when the Education Ministry cancelled its order in March, citing concerns over the portrayal of issues including social media and alcohol. 'The finished book is not suitable for independent reading, at home, with the family and without the guidance of teachers, for pupils aged 10 to 11' and 'could raise a number of questions among students that would not necessarily be answered appropriately,' the ministry said in a letter to the author. Jul denounced 'censorship' based on 'false pretexts.' He said the decision came from his representation of a heroine with brown skin and black curly hair. 'With the sensitivity and critical sense of a cartoonist used to capturing the zeitgeist, Jul infuses 'Beauty and the Beast' with a captivating modernity, without losing any of its universal spirit', the book's publisher GrandPalaisRmnÉditions said ahead of today's release. Education minister Élisabeth Borne's initial preface has disappeared from the newly published version, which is intended for readers from age 10 upwards, according to the publisher. Jul celebrated the release with a 3-minute online video, in which celebrities read excerpts of the tale. The video, titled 'Because no one should control what we read', features actors, writers and politicians from across the political spectrum, including former Education Minister Nicole Belloubet and former President François Hollande. "This mobilisation of the entire 'republican arc', with elected representatives as far apart as [leftist lawmaker] François Ruffin and [former right-wing Prime Minister] Édouard Philippe, shows that it's not possible for an ultra-reactionary fringe to tell us what we should or shouldn't read', Jul told AFP. 'There is unanimous agreement that this book deserves to be widely read.' The controversy even reached the National Assembly. Green lawmaker Cyrielle Chatelain requested on Monday the creation of a parliamentary inquiry committee into "the ultra-reactionary threat hanging over" French schools. She used 'Beauty and the Beast' as a case study. The "censorship" scandal still bears consequences. Jul's 'Beauty and the Beast' was printed in 20,000 copies, compared to the 800,000 initially required for the government's campaign. "The people who will go and buy it in bookshops are those who already go to bookshops," said Jul. "It was supposed to be given to those who don't usually go. The promotion of a common literary heritage is the ministry's mission, and it has failed." Belfast rap group Kneecap have a scheduled appearance today at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, UK, over terror charges. How to prep for such a situation? Billboards, of course. The trio, known for satirical lyrics and on-stage provocations, have put billboards up all over London that read 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara', in reference to a discriminatory slogan used in the mid-twentieth century that read 'No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs'. These discriminatory signs were commonplace in London in the 50s, plastered on homes and businesses. Kneecap announced their version of the sign on social media, ahead of what they have referred to as a 'witch-hunt'. Indeed, Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – was charged over an alleged incident where he reportedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a UK concert last November. Hezbollah is listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government. The group said that they 'deny' the offence and will 'vehemently defend ourselves'. 'This is political policing,' they wrote. 'This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.' 'British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with 'terrorism' for crimes never committed. We will fight them. We will win.' Une publication partagée par KNEECAP (@kneecap32) Kneecap have repeatedly denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, and argued that they are facing a "co-ordinated smear campaign" after speaking out about "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people". "Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history", they said in a statement. "Kneecap's message has always been - and remains - one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs." Many Kneecap fans made their way to Westminster Magistrates Court to show their support. Several days after the terror charges were made, the band addressed them by saying during their set at Wide Awake festival that the charges were a way of silencing Kneecap and preventing them from 'speaking on stage at Glastonbury the way we did at Coachella'. Several artists have supported Kneecap, including Brian Eno, Fontaines D.C. and Pulp. They signed an open letter criticizing a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap and opposing 'political repression of artistic freedom.' The letter reads: "As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.' "In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people." Similarly, Love Music Hate Racism shared a statement saying that the charity organisation 'stands with Kneecap'. 'Love Music Hate Racism stands with Kneecap against the attempts to silence them for speaking out for Gaza,' the statement read. 'Anyone trying to silence them, or get them pulled from shows, is on the wrong side of history. 'LMHR has always attempted to use the power of music to unite people against hate and division. We stand with Kneecap against those directing hate towards the movement for Palestine. We call on all to stand with Kneecap and defend Mo Chara on June 18 outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London.' There has been pushback from several UK politicians regarding the appearance of Kneecap at various music festivals this summer. The band are still listed as performing at Glastonbury on Saturday 28 June. Whether or not the BBC - Glastonbury's broadcaster – decide to televise Kneecap's performance remains to be seen.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- New York Times
Teaching Assistant Stabbed to Death at a School in France
A French teaching assistant died on Tuesday after being stabbed several times during a bag search at a middle school in France. The police arrested a 14-year-old student at the school in Nogent, a small town in northeastern France, according to the local authorities. Students, many of whom were in a state of distress after having witnessed the bloody scene, were placed under lockdown and then released to their parents throughout the day. The attack reignited fears in France, where schoolteachers have been a target of increasing violence in recent years. The police have not yet disclosed a motive for the stabbing. The French education minister, Élisabeth Borne, who rushed to the scene, told reporters that the student had been suspended twice early in the school year for disturbing class but had presented no difficulties since then. He had what seemed like a stable home and had been an anti-bullying ambassador at the school, she said. The student, who has not been named, had no criminal record, according to the local state prosecutor. 'His professors are totally shocked by what happened,' Ms. Borne told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. Students who had been in line for the bag search, which was overseen by local police officers, were in a state of profound shock, she said, and a psychological support team had been put in place immediately. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
France 24
10-06-2025
- France 24
Teenage student stabs teaching assistant to death at French school
French police were questioning a 15-year-old student who allegedly stabbed to death a 31-year-old school assistant on Tuesday as the pupils' bags were being checked outside the gates of a school in Nogent in northeastern France. The teenager was being held at the gendarmerie of Nogent while being questioned, the Haute-Marne Prefecture said. A police officer helping with the bag checks at the Françoise Dolto School in Nogent was slightly injured during the arrest, the gendarme service said. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "senseless wave of violence" after the fatal stabbing. 'While she was looking after our children in Nogent, an educational assistant lost her life, a victim of senseless violence,' French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X. 'The nation is in mourning and the government is mobilised to reduce crime.' Education Minister Élisabeth Borne was on her way to Nogent "to support the entire school community and the police". "I commend the composure and dedication of those who acted to subdue the attacker and protect the students and staff," she said on X. The 15-year-old suspect did not have a criminal record. The teaching assistant received several knife wounds just as classes were starting, and the alleged attacker, who was overpowered by gendarmes, "appears to be a student at the school", education officials said. 'Immense pain' In March, French police started random searches for knives and other weapons concealed in bags at and around schools. The teaching assistant was "simply doing her job by welcoming students at the entrance to the school", said Elisabeth Allain-Moreno, secretary general of the SE-UNSA teachers' union, expressing "immense pain". Allain-Moreno said that the attack "shows that nothing can ever be completely secure and that it is prevention that needs to be focused on". Jean-Rémi Girard, president of the National Union of Secondary Schools, added: "It's impossible to be more vigilant 24 hours a day. "We can't say that every student is a danger or a threat, otherwise we'd never get out of bed in the morning." French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denounced what she called the "normalisation of extreme violence, encouraged by the apathy of the authorities". "Not a week goes by without a tragedy striking a school," Le Pen said on X. "The French people have had enough and are waiting for a firm, uncompromising and determined political response to the scourge of juvenile violence," she added. In April, after a fatal attack at a school in Nantes, the education ministry reported that 958 random bag checks in schools had led to the seizure of 94 knives. After that knife attack, which left one person dead and three injured, Prime Minister François Bayrou called for "more intensive checks around and inside schools".
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Teaching assistant killed in knife attack at school in north-east France
Emmanuel Macron has condemned what he called a 'senseless wave of violence' after a 15-year-old pupil fatally stabbed a teaching assistant at a school. The 31-year-old woman died in hospital after she was stabbed during a bag search at the start of the school day outside a middle school in Nogent, in the Haute-Marne department in north-east France. Macron wrote on social media: 'While protecting our children, a teaching assistant lost her life, the victim of a senseless wave of violence … The nation is in mourning and the government is mobilised to reduce crime.' The education minister, Élisabeth Borne, said she was on her way to Nogent 'to support the entire school community and the police'. She wrote on social media: 'I commend the composure and dedication of those who acted to subdue the attacker and protect the students and staff.' The 15-year-old suspect, who was overpowered by gendarmes and is in police custody, was not previously known to police. Education officials told Agence France-Presse he 'appeared to be a student at the school'. The teaching assistant received several knife wounds. About 300 pupils at the school were locked down inside at the time of the boy's arrest. In March, French police started random searches for knives and other weapons concealed in bags in and around schools. Élisabeth Allain-Moreno, the secretary general of the SE-Unsa teachers' union, said the teaching assistant was 'simply doing her job by welcoming students at the entrance to the school'. She said the attack 'shows that nothing can ever be completely secure and that it is prevention that needs to be focused on'. Jean-Rémi Girard, the president of the National Union of Secondary Schools, said: 'It's impossible to be more vigilant 24 hours a day. We can't say that every student is a danger or a threat, otherwise we'd never get out of bed in the morning.' The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denounced what she called the 'normalisation of extreme violence, encouraged by the apathy of the authorities'. She wrote on social media: 'Not a week goes by without a tragedy striking a school. The French people have had enough and are waiting for a firm, uncompromising and determined political response to the scourge of juvenile violence.' At the end of April, after a fatal attack at a school in Nantes, the education ministry reported that 958 random bag checks in schools had led to the seizure of 94 knives. After that knife attack, which left one person dead and three injured, the prime minister, François Bayrou, called for more intensive checks around and inside schools. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
