The Obstruction of Freedom of Worship
The texts are clear: France is a secular Republic and respects all beliefs (Article 1 of the Constitution). Secularism guarantees everyone freedom of conscience, which means the freedom to believe or not to believe, and the free exercise of religion as long as public order is respected (Article 1 of the 1905 law).
However, in Nice, nothing of the sort applies to Muslim citizens. The city hall deliberately obstructs various prayer room projects for many years and relentlessly engages in deceitful legal proceedings against the En-nour mosque (read here).
The State Council’s decision on June 30, 2016 (read here) specifically concerning the En-nour Institute in Nice stipulates that the City of Nice committed “a serious and manifestly illegal infringement of the fundamental freedom” which is the freedom of worship.
There is no possible public disavowal more scathing of the policy conducted by the City of Nice towards its Muslim constituents. And what does the City Hall do? It announces in January 2017 that it will contest the prefectoral decision to open this place of worship!
Thus, a fundamental freedom is publicly and repeatedly violated, and the City of Nice continues its legal and procedural harassment with complete impunity.
How long will we allow the municipalities of the French Riviera to infringe on fundamental freedoms by merely overturning their decrees and condemning them to pay symbolic sums?
by David Nakache, Tous Citoyens
