The administrative court validated on Saturday the prefectural ban on the demonstration in support of the Palestinian people, convened from 2:30 p.m. in Paris, particularly in view of “the seriousness of the risk of disturbances to public order”. In a press release, the court argued that it was not suspending the order which prohibits it, “in particular with regard to the context of heightened tensions linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the conditions in which this demonstration took place”.
“The demonstration in dispute takes place in a context of heightened tensions linked to events in the Gaza Strip with an increase in anti-Semitic acts in France,” he argued. Seized urgently, the judge in summary proceedings thus rejected the requests of fourteen associations and individuals who contested this ban in the name of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
“Given the reality and the seriousness of the risks of disturbances to public order, and while a less restrictive measure could not be implemented, it is without causing, in this case, a manifestly illegal infringement to the freedom of demonstration and expression that the prefect of police has pronounced a ban on demonstrations in Paris”, concludes the judge in his order consulted by AFP. This demonstration is planned from Place du Châtelet to Place de la République.
“Thousands of supporters”
“The planned gathering may present a particular serious risk of violence against other groups or the police and damage to property,” the judge ruled. Notably because unlike the gatherings of October 19, 22 and 24, 2023, this one is “ambulatory, and not static”, passing through “the Marais and Sentier districts where a large Jewish community is located and are located in particular Jewish religious and cultural places,” he noted in his press release.
He also considers that public security could not be guaranteed, the police forces being “heavily mobilized” on the sidelines of the Rugby World Cup final, “draining thousands of supporters” in Paris and its suburbs, according to the order.
Organized by the Urgence Palestine collective, this demonstration in support of the Palestinian people was banned on Thursday by Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez, for risk of disturbing public order.
“This is a revolting decision, which confirms the risks of disturbances to public order which nothing supports in view of the course of the previous demonstrations of October 19, 22 and 24,” reacted to AFP , Me Vincent Brenghart, one of the lawyers for the applicant associations.