French court upholds six-month closure of Aulnay mosque over alleged extremist rhetoric

Friday 07 August 2026 - 11:23

By: Sahili Aya

French court upholds six-month closure of Aulnay mosque over alleged extremist rhetoric

A French administrative court has upheld a government order requiring the temporary closure of a mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois, ruling that authorities acted lawfully after concluding the site had been associated with speech encouraging violence and extremist ideology.

The decision confirms a six-month closure ordered by the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis, reinforcing France's legal framework that allows authorities to suspend the operation of places of worship when they are considered to present a threat to public order or national security.

Court finds prefect's decision legally justified

In its ruling, the Administrative Court of Montreuil concluded that the prefect's order did not constitute an unlawful or disproportionate restriction on either freedom of worship or freedom of expression.

According to the court, evidence presented during the proceedings indicated that individuals responsible for religious activities at the mosque, as well as content circulated through associated social media channels, had included statements that amounted to incitement to violence, hatred or discrimination. The judges further determined that some of the rhetoric was linked to the risk of terrorist acts, support for terrorism or the glorification of such acts.

Corrective measures deemed insufficient

The association managing the mosque argued that steps had been taken to address the concerns raised by authorities. However, the court found those measures inadequate to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Judges also noted that the mosque continued to attract individuals promoting comparable extremist narratives, a factor they considered relevant when assessing the ongoing security risk.

Security and civil liberties remain at the center of debate

The ruling highlights the continuing balance French authorities seek to strike between safeguarding constitutional freedoms and preventing the spread of extremist ideology.

Successive governments have strengthened administrative powers to close places of worship where officials believe public safety is at risk, particularly in cases involving alleged incitement to terrorism or violent extremism. Supporters of these measures argue they are necessary to protect national security, while civil liberties advocates continue to stress the importance of ensuring judicial oversight and proportionality.

The latest judgment confirms that, in this case, the court found the prefect's decision met the legal standards required under French administrative law.