French university union calls for withdrawal of ‘biased’ antisemitism survey

The leading French union of higher education teachers and researchers (Snesup-FSU) on Sunday said that a survey on anti-Semitism aimed at teachers and students, initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education, is biased and called for its withdrawal, news agency AFP reported. 

French newspaper Le Monde reported that the survey, conducted by the polling institute Ifop, asks staff about antisemitism.

"When you think about the antisemitism that exists in France, would you say that Jews bear some responsibility?" it asks, among other things.

The survey also asked respondents to classify "opinions that one sometimes hears about Jews", such as "generally Jews are richer than the average French person".

A letter about the "scientific study" on "anti-Semitism in higher education and research" was sent to heads of institutions, the report said. 

Emmanuel de Lescure, general secretary of the Snesup-FSU union, told AFP that the study aims to create "a kind of map of political opinions in higher education and research," which raises questions about its legality.