Justice suspends ban on march against racism and Islamophobia planned for Sunday in Paris

In its decision, the Paris administrative court considers that the decree which prohibited this march “comes a serious and manifestly illegal attack on the freedom of demonstration”.

“A serious and manifestly illegal attack on the freedom of demonstration.” Justice decided, Friday April 19, to suspend the prefectural ban on a march against racism and Islamophobia planned for Sunday in Paris. The administrative court ruled in summary proceedings, the day after the decision of the Paris police prefect to ban this march, citing “high risk of disturbances to public order”. The prefecture had also mentioned a context of “police mobilization at other demonstrations and sporting events”.

This march “against racism, Islamophobia and for the protection of all children” is organized at the call of 51 organizations including LFI, the NPA, Attac, Solidaires and the national observatory of police practices and violence. It must take place between Barbès and République and end with a concert.

The organizers planned to “control speeches”

To justify its decision to ban this march, the police headquarters had focused on a “lack of consideration of the risks of overflows by the organizers and the insufficient security service”. The banning order noted “moreover that this march, also wishing to focus attention on the children of Gaza, (was) likely, given the current tensions in the Middle East (…) to carry anti-Semitic slogans within it.”

An argument rejected by the administrative court. He thus underlined that the organizers had planned “to control speeches at the microphone in order to prevent any anti-Semitic speech”. And to conclude: “Under these conditions, it does not follow from the investigation that the planned demonstration would lead to serious disturbances to public order. Therefore, the execution of the contested order, which constitutes a serious and manifestly illegal attack on freedom demonstration, must be suspended.”

“Once again, we must resort to justice for a fundamental right which is the freedom to demonstrate,” reacted Simon Duteil, co-general delegate of the Solidaires union, to AFP. “This government does not support freedom of expression and in particular that we denounce police violence and racism”he added.