Raphaël Arnault Villeurbanne conference court ruling, Digi Mart USA News (Villeurbanne, France): A conference featuring La France Insoumise (LFI) deputies Raphaël Arnault and Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi, scheduled for Friday, November 6 in Villeurbanne, was authorized at the last minute by the Lyon administrative court. The court partially overturned a prefectural order issued the previous day.
In its decision, cited by AFP, the court stated that “the prohibition, which has the effect of depriving two parliamentarians of their freedom of expression, cannot be regarded as necessary to maintain public order.”
The prefect of the Rhône had banned the conference, along with any gathering nearby. He cited calls from far-right groups and a risk of “clashes between radical groups that claim the use of violence.” A first rally, initially planned for Thursday in Lyon, had already been canceled for security reasons, according to authorities, due to fears of clashes between far-right activists and supporters of Arnault.
Several associates of the LFI deputy have been placed under formal investigation in the inquiry into the death of far-right militant Quentin Deranque. The militant was beaten to death in Lyon in February.
His family strongly criticized the planned presentation of a book by the Vaucluse deputy, scheduled in Villeurbanne.
Lawyer Chirinne Ardakani, representing Arnault and Belouassa-Cherifi, the LFI deputy for the Rhône also listed for the event, had challenged the prefect’s decision in an urgent application before the administrative court. She described the ban as “grossly illegal and an infringement of the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and assembly.”
