The Arab World Institute in Paris, known as the Institut du monde arabe or IMA, has appointed Anne-Claire Legendre—a French diplomat close to president Emmanuel Macron—to replace Jack Lang as chair. Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor in 2008. He died in prison in 2019 in what was ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Legendre has had a long diplomatic career, centred on the Arab world. m institute includes an art gallery, auditorium, library and restaurant, and records around 750,000 visitors annually.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 17, 2026 17:46 UTC