Following yet another objection from the prefect, the organizers decided to file an appeal with the administrative court, and they won the case.
“A protest for a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis” is the subject of the mobilization that is gaining more and more traction over the weeks in the city of Nice, and far beyond. Consistently refused by the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Hugues Moutouh, this has become a true showdown between the different parties. The prefect cites the tense geopolitical context, threats of public disorder, fear from the Jewish community, and a significant increase in anti-Semitic acts to justify these bans.
Salim Hasnaoui, present on multiple occasions at the meetings for peace, does not understand such measures: “This is a message sent to prevent demonstrations for a ceasefire in Gaza, denouncing the indiscriminate bombings and violations of international law by Israel against the Palestinian people. Afflicted like all of us by the massacres of Hamas, it seems to me, however, that no message has been sent by the elected officials to call for peace in this part of the world.” Walid, as he is known, regrets like Julien Picot that “there is no common gathering, including all components of the city, aiming to promote general harmony.”
Unnecessary Tensions?
At 3 PM, on Garibaldi Square this Saturday afternoon, there were more than 1,000: women, men, seniors, and young people came to raise their voices. It must be said that the anger is not subsiding, and it is certainly not the recent prefectural decisions that will reconcile the situation. For now, the group behind the mobilizations does not seem to be giving in to the successively reduced orders of prohibition, far from being justified in the eyes of justice: “By prohibiting the disputed protest, the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes has caused a serious and manifestly illegal infringement on the freedoms of expression and assembly,” comments the judge in charge of summary proceedings.
