Why the Bleuets Mosque in Marseille will remain open at least until December

The highest administrative court has accepted the request of the place of worship’s officials. The aim is to verify whether the law that allows prefects to close places of worship truly respects the Constitution and fundamental freedoms.

This decision provides immediate respite for the mosque. As the Constitutional Council will need several weeks to rule, the closure order issued by the prefect will automatically expire on December 5, before the verdict is even handed down. The establishment will therefore remain open, regardless of the future legal outcome.

Imam Smaïn Bendjilali welcomed this step. He recalled that nothing was yet definitively settled, but that any attempt at closure was for now halted. He also launched an appeal to the faithful to finance a crowdfunding campaign of 12,000 euros, the amount necessary to cover the legal costs incurred in this tug-of-war with the State.