French Government Blocks Muslim Exhibition Near Lyon Over Extremism Concerns

The 3rd edition of the Aux Sources exhibition, scheduled from May 17 to 18 in Meyzieu, near Lyon, will no longer take place. A decree by Mayor Christophe Quiniou prohibits the event from being held, for several reasons. According to him, this ban is explained by "the presence of speakers notoriously known for their radical positions, contrary to our republican principles". These are Vincent Souleymane and Yusuf Ibram.

The mayor of Meyzieu criticizes Vincent Souleymane for statements made on social media against "state Islamophobia", "Zionism", feminist or LGBT movements, as well as statements "with conspiratorial connotations, relating to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict or jihadist attacks committed in Europe". "During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, he did not hesitate to describe France as being ’at the forefront of ignominy, decadence and indignity’ and denouncing the invitation of a ’genocidal president’," the decree emphasizes.

Yusuf Ibram, from Switzerland, is criticized for having "legitimized the stoning of adulterous women, condemned the wearing of light clothing for women, or even shared his doubts about the possibility for virgin women to ride bicycles". It is this position that led to the ban of his conference last March in Geneva.

Subsequently, the ban on the Muslim exhibition reaches the National Assembly. Responding to the RN deputy of the constituency, Tiffany Joncour, during the government questions session on Tuesday, May 13, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, declared "having given instructions to the prefecture to allow the ban of the Muslim exhibition", reports SaphirNews.