Court Overturns Decision to Revoke Muslim School’s State Contract in Lille

According to the court, the administration did not demonstrate a lack of cultural pluralism, the incompatibility of an ethics course with republican values, or the existence of illicit funding. While some shortcomings were acknowledged, they were not deemed serious enough to justify terminating the contract.

The Averroes association hailed a "victory for the rule of law," stating that the contract was retroactively reinstated. "It has been demonstrated that all the teachings provided [...] are in line with the values of the Republic," declared Mr. Paul Jablonski, the school’s lawyer. The director, Eric Dufour, mentioned the "brilliant results" maintained despite "an absolute storm" and refuted the presence of a controversial religious book in the establishment.

In response, the Ministry of National Education is considering an appeal, believing that trust has been broken. Prime Minister François Bayrou stated that he respects the decision while seeking a balance to avoid "excesses." The president of Hauts-de-France, Xavier Bertrand, for his part, wished for an appeal by the State. The former prefect, Georges-François Leclerc, had justified his initial decision by citing a "danger" for students and elements related to "Salafi-Brotherhood" ideology.

This decision comes in a context where Averroes’ management denounced a "full-scale attack on private Muslim education," a perception echoed by some observers who pointed out a "double standard" compared to other establishments. The loss of the contract had forced the high school to double its tuition fees and had led to a drop in its enrollment from 470 to 290 students.