Teacher Accused of Racist Harassment Over Colleague's Palestinian Keffiyeh at Andorran School
Educational collaborator Xènia claims discrimination for wearing the scarf, prompting a parents' petition defending the teacher and a review meeting with French education delegates.
Key Points
- Teacher accused of racist harassment by Xènia over her Palestinian keffiyeh at French School in Andorra.
- Parents launch Change.org petition defending teacher, demanding impartial investigation.
- Xènia claims teacher called keffiyeh a 'rag' worn by 'people who kill'; parents cite her insults.
- Monday meeting set with school directors and French education delegates to review dispute.
A teacher at the French School in Sant Julià de Lòria stands accused of racist and Zionist harassment by educational collaborator Xènia, who attributes the conduct to her habit of wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh or, at times, a Morocco national team football shirt. The dispute, spanning the school year, has sparked a Change.org petition from parents backing the teacher, while a Monday meeting between school directors and French education delegates will review the matter.
Xènia, in her first year at the school and employed as an auxiliary by the Fundació Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, posted videos detailing her claims on social media before removing them. She filed a second complaint with the French education delegation last Friday, following an earlier report that yielded no sanctions. Xènia wears the keffiyeh around her neck, on her handbag, or backpack, and stresses she has never voiced her strong opposition to what she terms the "genocide" in Palestine on school premises. She describes the teacher's responses as discriminatory, such as removing her items from a classroom, issuing an "it's you or me" ultimatum that she ignored, and telling primary pupils the keffiyeh is worn only by "people who kill," linking it to support for those who murder children like the students themselves.
The Friday incident, observed by young pupils, led to mutual insults in the corridors. Parents' accounts, circulated in an audio message, say the teacher called the keffiyeh a "rag" and objected to her classroom presence, prompting Xènia's reply of "fucking racist shit." Families assisting at school events report Xènia had caused earlier friction, including insulting the teacher as "stupid" or worse in front of children when he was absent, while noting he never raised the issue directly with pupils.
Other educational collaborators in Sant Julià schools have distanced themselves from Xènia, clarifying she is not one of their group but an auxiliary from the Meritxell foundation, and urging the collective stay out of the controversy. They expressed disappointment that neither the school nor the foundation has commented.
The petition demands an impartial, swift investigation, rejecting discrimination allegations against the teacher and invoking the school's secular, neutral stance against political or religious promotion. Citing Andorra's school safety regulations and the Franco-Andorran education agreement, it calls for his protection, condemns inappropriate comments near children, and highlights Xènia's alleged insults as unfit for an educational setting. Signatories emphasize maintaining a neutral, respectful environment free of confrontation.
The school previously instructed the teacher to avoid confronting Xènia over her attire. She intends to provide more details once the delegation responds, as the conflict fuels ongoing discussions among families and staff about school harmony.
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Other articles from Catalan-language sources about the same story:
- Altaveu•
Les col·laboradores educatives es desmarquen de l'educadora del mocador palestí: no les representa
- Diari d'Andorra•
Polèmica per suposats insults racistes a l’escola de Sant Julià
- Altaveu•
Famílies de l'Escola francesa de Sant Julià defensen el mestre de l'incident del mocador palestí
- Diari d'Andorra•
Un conflicte entre un professor i una col.laboradora educativa provoca una mobilització de pares a l'Escola Francesa de Sant Julià
- Altaveu•
Una col·laboradora educativa acusa un docent de proferir-li un tracte racista per la vestimenta
- Altaveu•
Xènia la 'terrorista'?