Dijon court upholds ban on religious symbols in council meetings

The administrative court of Dijon on Wednesday upheld a decree issued by the mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône, Gilles Platret (formerly of the LR party), banning «conspicuous religious symbols» during municipal council meetings. Two LFI elected officials who challenged the measure, one of whom wears a veil, saw their case dismissed.

According to AFP, the judge in interim proceedings held that «the freedom of conscience of an elected member of a municipal council must be reconciled with the principle of secularism they are required to uphold». The court further ruled that the ban on «conspicuous religious symbols» in council meetings does not constitute «a serious and manifestly unlawful infringement of freedom of conscience».

The decree, validated by the court, was issued on January 14, drawing on the 2018 National Assembly regulation on the wearing of «conspicuous» religious symbols. «We took our cue from the highest authority. How could it be possible for them to have such a regulation, and not us?» the mayor said after the hearing, as quoted by AFP.

Last Sunday, Gilles Platret was comfortably re-elected in the first round of the municipal elections, securing 61% of the vote. He had previously attempted to ban the Palestinian flag in his municipality, a measure later suspended by the courts, and had also unsuccessfully sought to remove pork-free menu options in school cafeterias.