Court Overturns Ban on Major Muslim Gathering in France

Fri Apr 03 2026 14:54:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A French court has ruled in favor of the Annual Encounter of Muslims of France, allowing the event to proceed against a government ban citing security threats.

A French administrative court has overturned a government ban on the Annual Encounter of Muslims of France, stating that security concerns raised by the Paris police were unfounded. The event, which has significant cultural and religious importance, is set to proceed amidst accusations that the ban was a breach of basic liberties.

A major gathering of Muslims in northern Paris is going ahead as planned after a French court overturned a government bid to ban it.

The Paris police department argued that the four-day Annual Encounter of Muslims of France was a security threat because it could be a target of terrorism.

But the organisers – the Muslims of France (MF) association – sought an emergency injunction to let the event go ahead, arguing that a ban would be a breach of basic liberties.

The administrative court agreed and overturned the government decree, just two hours before the planned opening at 14:00 (13:00 BST).

In its ruling the court said that elements provided by police did not establish the risk of counter-demonstrations, or that the gathering would be targeted by far-right groups.

It also dismissed the argument that the event would pose an unacceptable strain on police resources, noting that the organisers had themselves assured extra security.

Part cultural and religious conference, part trade fair, the gathering used to be an annual event, but has not been held since 2019. Before that it regularly drew tens of thousands of people from across Europe.

The Muslims of France association - France's biggest Muslim body - is said by critics to be close to the international Muslim Brotherhood, though it denies that.

Earlier, in justifying the ban, the Paris police department said that in an international and national context which is particularly tense, the gathering was exposed to an important terrorist risk toward the Muslim community.

In a context of political agitation and a heavy polarisation of debate it was possible that small far-right groups could mobilise with a view to disrupting the event, it said.

The ban has drawn significant criticism, with opponents claiming it was an infringement on the right to assemble.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez mentioned future laws targeting 'separatism', which have raised concerns about state overreach into religious practices.