French Court Overturns Ban on Muslim Gathering

A French administrative court has overturned a police ban on the Annual Gathering of Muslims of France, allowing the large-scale event to proceed as planned this Easter weekend at the Le Bourget Exhibition Center north of Paris. The ruling, issued Friday, came just days after authorities prohibited the gathering citing security risks, highlighting ongoing tensions between public safety and religious freedoms in the country.

The event, organized by Musulmans de France, the nation's largest Islamic association, was scheduled to run from April 3 to 6 and typically draws thousands of participants for prayers, discussions, and community activities. Organizers described it as an open forum promoting dialogue, solidarity, and civic engagement, open to people of all backgrounds. In a statement following the court's decision, the group welcomed the outcome as a "restoration of fundamental rights," emphasizing that freedom of assembly must be protected unless restrictions are absolutely necessary to maintain public order.

Paris police had banned the gathering on Thursday, arguing it faced a significant terrorist threat targeting the Muslim community amid a tense international and national...