French court upholds six-month closure of Muslim school

A French administrative court has upheld the six-month closure of a private school attended by Muslim students in the northern city of Creil, rejecting appeals by the associations managing the institution, Oise Hebdo reported Thursday.

The Administrative Court of Amiens dismissed two applications seeking to suspend the closure order issued by the Oise prefecture and allow Al Ghazali school to reopen.

According to the ruling, the school had not provided all the necessary “safety guarantees” for students, despite construction work carried out at the facility.

About 250 students affected

The closure took effect on September 30 and will remain in force for six months. Approximately 250 students attend the school across primary, middle and high school levels.

The court also rejected the managing associations’ argument that the closure would cause serious financial consequences, ruling that they had not demonstrated the “particular urgency” required to suspend the order.

Families have 15 days to enroll their children in other schools.

Safety inspections preceded closure

The school underwent safety inspections in June and September. A safety commission reportedly identified irregularities in the building used for primary education, prompting authorities to demand corrective measures.

The Oise prefecture subsequently ordered the closure on September 29, citing concerns over the use of certain rooms, the school’s operating arrangements and safety conditions.

The associations managing Al Ghazali school have 10 days to appeal the court’s decision.

Source:AA