French Court Overturns Ban on Major Muslim Gathering
A major Muslim gathering in northern Paris will go ahead. A French court overturned a government bid to ban it. The event is called the Annual Encounter of Muslims of France. It lasted for four days.The Paris police department opposed the gathering. They argued it was a security threat. Specifically, they said it could be a target of terrorism. However, the organisers disagreed strongly.
Court Ruling Just Hours Before Opening
The Muslims of France (MF) association sought an emergency injunction. They argued that a ban would breach basic liberties. Therefore, the administrative court agreed with them. The court overturned the government decree. This happened just two hours before the planned 14:00 opening.Why did the court rule this way? The police did not prove a real risk. For example, there was no evidence of planned counter-demonstrations. There was also no proof that far-right groups would target the event.
Security and Past History
In addition, the court dismissed another argument. Police claimed the event would strain their resources. But the organisers assured extra security themselves. As a result, the court found the ban unreasonable.The gathering is part cultural, part religious, and part trade fair. It used to be an annual event before 2019. It regularly drew tens of thousands of people from across Europe. This is its first return since then.Critics say the association is close to the Muslim Brotherhood. However, the group denies that claim. It remains France’s biggest Muslim body.
