Moroccan Wedding Sparks Controversy: Mayor Files Complaint Over ’Unprecedented Disturbances’ in Eure-et-Loir

Controversy around a wedding celebrated on Saturday, June 21 in Lᵉves (Eure-et-Loir). "This is the first time such disturbances have been observed in the municipality," regrets Rémi Martial, mayor (LR) of Lᵉves (Eure-et-Loir), referring to offenses such as non-compliance with the Highway Code, blocking of roundabouts, use of fireworks... "It is my duty as mayor to ensure the tranquility of the inhabitants and the respect of the rules of law, whatever the circumstances," specifies the elected official. He even filed a complaint with the public prosecutor on June 27.

The mayor of Eure-et-Loir reports that between 2 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. on the day of the ceremony, members of the procession blocked two strategic roundabouts in the municipality to allow the passage of vehicles, and that some passengers were sitting on the car doors, waving Moroccan and Albanian flags. "A scooter was spotted on the pedestrian square in the city center, and several vehicles crossed a one-way street to go to a parking lot that had nevertheless been discouraged for guests," he added in a statement. Rémi Martial also questions the ability of some guests to drive high-end vehicles while the newlyweds benefit from social housing.

A remark that the young newlyweds (the man is 25 years old, the woman 24 years old) and their parents did not appreciate. "Is celebrating a wedding reserved for a certain social class? The cars were rented. The one of the newlyweds was a gift from the family," intervenes during an interview given to Le Parisien by the groom’s aunt, furious at the treatment reserved for the couple. Giving their version of the facts under anonymity for fear of retaliation, the young newlyweds say they feel "humiliated" and mention a "political move" by a mayor from the Republicans party. They firmly deny the accusations relayed by Martial. "This wedding took place with dignity, without disturbance or violence," says the husband. According to them, the ceremony was calm, without agitation, and the remarks about the presence of flags would have been settled immediately. "There was only one kind request from the deputy mayor that no flag be waved in the town hall. I asked my guest to put it away, which he did immediately," says the groom. "We are French and proud of it," he specifies.

"My wife is very affected by the controversy," the husband confesses. "She tells me: I’m disgusted. I’m afraid. We lock the door twice," for fear that a racist individual might attack them. This couple, who arrived in the municipality only in April of this year, feels discriminated against. They are considering filing a complaint against the mayor. The latter denies any discrimination. "This is not a matter of origin or community. This debate, it is the newlyweds who introduce it. It is not mine. The issue is respect for the rules of civility," he brushed aside, also recalling that the municipality has more than thirty different nationalities and regularly hosts weddings from various cultures. "We have never had a problem," he continued.