French court lifts ban on Muslim gathering in Paris

A French administrative court has suspended a government order banning the Annual Meeting of Muslims of France, allowing the event to proceed as planned from April 3 to 6 at the Le Bourget Exhibition Center, organizers said on Friday.

In a statement, the organization "Musulmans de France" welcomed the Paris Administrative Court's decision, describing it as a restoration of fundamental rights and a confirmation that the initial ban was "serious, disproportionate, and legally unfounded."

The emergency judge ruled that freedom of assembly is a fundamental right that authorities are obliged to protect, the statement said, adding that restrictions can only be imposed as a last resort when no other measures are sufficient to maintain public order.

Organizers emphasized that such justification had not been demonstrated by the Paris police prefecture, which issued the ban just 48 hours before the event.

While welcoming the ruling as a legal victory, the group also criticized the timing of the prohibition, noting that it created significant uncertainty for associations, exhibitors, commercial partners, and thousands of participants after weeks of preparation and substantial financial investment.

"A ban imposed 48 hours before the event, without any real dialogue or proposed alternative, cannot be dismissed," the statement said.

"Attending the event means asserting that our rights are not negotiable," the group said, adding that the meeting is open to all and aims to promote values of dialogue, solidarity, and community engagement.

The Annual Meeting of Muslims of France is one of the country's largest Muslim gatherings, bringing together religious leaders, civil society actors, and visitors from across France.