Muslim school Avicenne in Nice remains open after court overturns closure order

The closure order for the Avicenne Muslim middle school in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) was overturned this Friday by the Marseille administrative court of appeal. The court confirmed the annulment of the prefectural decree, aligning with the initial ruling that deemed the accounting errors insufficient for such a severe action, as reported by AFP. The decree, originally issued in March 2024, was temporarily suspended a month later by the administrative court in Nice and ultimately annulled in July 2024 after a comprehensive review.

The institution's lawyer, Me Sefen Guez Guez, celebrated what he called a «third consecutive victory,» expressing hope that «the relentless pursuit against this college will finally cease.» Established in 2016, the independent institution is located in a disadvantaged neighborhood in northeast Nice and currently educates 130 students.

AFP highlights that «the authorities do not question the quality of education provided,» noting the students' success in national exams and their subsequent achievements in public high schools. The curriculum includes «the official syllabus, with an additional 1.5 hours of Arabic language and 1.5 hours of Muslim ethics,» and the teaching staff comprises individuals «of all faiths.»

Nonetheless, the 2021 law against separatism mandates that independent institutions disclose the origins of their funding to the administration. The prefecture's decree pointed out «discrepancies surrounding loans converted into donations,» amounting to 476,000 euros in favor of the school.