French far-right MEP to stand trial for defamation against Muslim school in Valence

French far-right MEP Marion Maréchal is scheduled to stand trial on September 2, 2025, for defamation against the association Valeurs et Réussite, which runs an independent Muslim school in Valence. According to AFP, citing a source close to the case and judicial documents, she will answer for remarks made in 2023 on social media. In posts on TikTok and Instagram, Maréchal accused the NGO of being linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming it shares «the same objective» as Al Qaeda and ISIS.

Valeurs et Réussite filed a lawsuit in 2024. In October of that year, Marion Maréchal repeated similar allegations on the CNews television channel. She was formally indicted in March. The controversy dates back to 2022, when the NGO planned to purchase a plot of land from the municipality. Around that time, the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published an article connecting the NGO to the Muslim Brotherhood. According to the association, this prompted the prefecture to intervene and cancel the sale, despite municipal approval.

Valeurs et Réussite had previously sued Charlie Hebdo, which was acquitted on appeal. The court ruled that «the allegation of proximity between the school and the Muslim Brotherhood (…) falls within the realm of free debate of ideas» and is «an entirely subjective value judgment», noting that the Muslim Brotherhood is not banned in France.