On October 19th, the administrative court of Paris suspended the prefectural ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration that was already taking place on Place de la République in the capital.
The court stated in its order, of which AFP obtained a copy, that “the execution of the decrees (…) of the prefect of police on October 18th is suspended insofar as they prohibit the planned gathering between 7pm and 8pm.”
For reference, on October 12th, five days after the bloody attack carried out by Hamas in Israel, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin instructed prefects to ban “pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as they are likely to cause disturbances to public order.”
This decision sparked strong reactions. Last Wednesday, the Council of State reminded the government that these gatherings could not be systematically banned and that it was up to the prefects alone to assess whether there was a risk of disturbances to public order on a local scale.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron justified the ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in France on Thursday, citing the need for a “period of decency” after the massacres by Hamas and the risk of infiltration by “radical elements.”
