A congress on Covid-19 organized at the IHU in Marseille with controversial scientific figures
The event “Covid-19, first assessment of scientific knowledge and controversies”, in which Professor Didier Raoult will participate in particular, is to be held at the end of March in Marseille.
The event is not unanimous. The “Covid-19, first assessment of scientific knowledge and controversies” congress, scheduled for March 30 and 31 at the IHU Méditerranée in Marseille, is arousing criticism within the scientific community. The reason ? The presence of certain speakers, scientists who questioned the effectiveness of the vaccine against Covid-19.
Figures known for their opposition to the vaccine
Among the researchers invited to the congress, will be present Louis Fouché, Marseille anti-vaccine figure and member of the collective opposed to RéInfo Covid health restrictions, or Robert Malone, American biologist, known for having questioned the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The organizer of the symposium Laurent Mucchielli, sociologist and researcher at the CNRS initially specializing in delinquency, is today very critical of the health policy carried out by the government during the Covid pandemic. However, he denies having organized an event targeting the executive and claiming the right to propose a “contradictory debate” on the management of Covid-19.
“The specificity of scientific activity is to be able to discuss everything, it is not to repeat government press releases (…) We do not have the right to question the communication of politicians? It’s a joke”, defends the researcher on BFM Marseille.
Didier Raoult present to deliver the inaugural speech
Another controversial figure present at the symposium: Professor Didier Raoult, who notably spoke out in favor of treatment with hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19. Laurent Muchielli assures that the epidemiologist is not the instigator of the event which will take place at the IHU, an institute dependent on the AP-HM.
“Didier Raoult is not the organizer of this scientific symposium, it’s me. (..) I offered to do it at the IHU Méditerranée (directed by Didier Raoult), he accepted it. I offered him to make the first speech and then it stops there”, assures the sociologist on our channel.
In view of the controversies, Didier Raoult clarified his position on Twitter, ensuring that he did not want to “censor” the conference, without however “supporting” it.
An answer that is not to the taste of many scientists. Doctor Alexander Samuel expressed in particular on Twitter, assuring that “to shelter is to guarantee”.