French court confirms overturning decision to close Islamic school in Nice

Marseille Administrative Court of Appeal upheld annulment of prefectural order to close Muslim school in Nice, ruling that accounting errors did not justify such a drastic measure.

A French court on Friday confirmed overturning the decision to close College Avicenne in Nice, according to broadcaster BFM TV.

The Marseille Administrative Court of Appeal confirmed the annulment of the prefectural order to close the Muslim school in Nice, ruling that accounting errors did not justify such a drastic measure.

The closure order, signed in March 2024, was first suspended a month later in an emergency ruling by the Nice administrative court and then annulled in July 2024 by the same court following a thorough review.

The prefecture's closure order cited discrepancies regarding loans converted into a donation totaling €476,000 (approximately $550,608) in favor of the school, as well as a loan granted by the school to one of its donors.

The appellate judges ruled that the school's permanent closure was "disproportionate," given "the minor nature of the association's errors and inaccuracies," and that the prefect could have imposed a temporary closure instead.

AA