A significant Muslim gathering in northern Paris is proceeding as intended after a court invalidated a government attempt to stop it. The ruling by the administrative court arrived just two hours before the Annual Encounter of Muslims of France was set to begin at 14:00 (13:00 BST).
Police in Paris had sought to prohibit the four-day event, labelling it a potential terrorist target and a security hazard. They cited a “particularly tense” climate both domestically and abroad, claiming the gathering faced a substantial risk of terrorism.
Authorities also expressed concerns that small far-right groups might attempt to disrupt the conference and suggested that foreign entities might use proxies to stir trouble, citing previous accusations made by France against Russia and Iran, reports BBC.
However, the court found that the police failed to prove there was a genuine risk of counter-demonstrations or targeted far-right attacks. It also rejected the claim that the event would overburden law enforcement, noting that the Muslims of France (MF) association, which organised the event, had arranged for its own additional security.
Sefen Guez Guez, representing the MF association, argued that the ban was a clear violation of the right to assemble. He suggested the government’s move was intended to generate support for a proposed “anti-separatism” law.
A lawyer for the police denied these claims, stating the decree was meant solely to uphold public order and was not “anti-Muslim”.
This legal battle coincides with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s announcement of new legislation aimed at groups whose ideas conflict with French republican principles. Building on a law passed five years ago, the new measures seek to regulate collective childcare and enable the banning of materials that incite hatred, violence, or discrimination.
The MF association, widely considered France’s largest Muslim organisation, has denied accusations from critics that it is linked to the international Muslim Brotherhood. Their annual event, which combines cultural and religious discussions with a trade fair, is returning for the first time since 2019. Historically, the gathering has attracted tens of thousands of participants from across the continent.
