The ban on Rima Hassan's conference at the University of Strasbourg deemed illegal by the courts

The Strasbourg administrative court ruled that the ban on the MEP's conference “infringed freedom of expression”.

“The ban is considered disproportionate.” Justice ruled this Tuesday, November 26, against the decision of the University of Strasbourg to ban a conference by Rima Hassan scheduled for Thursday, November 28.

The Franco-Palestinian MEP and students contested the university's decision to cancel this meeting organized in particular by the Palestine Unistras collective, on the theme “European Union and international relations”.

“Less restrictive measures” possible

The university has not proven that holding this debate presented a risk of disturbing public order.

Moreover, for the judges of the administrative court of Strasbourg, “the University of Strasbourg has not demonstrated the existence of organizational difficulties such as to justify the pure and simple banning of this conference”.

Justice considers that there are “less restrictive measures” which allow the conference to be held, such as “limitation to a student audience, prior registration or even the presence of a security service”.

Same decision at Sciences Po Paris

The conference is also not considered incompatible with the missions of a higher education establishment and its requirement for independence.

Rima Hassan reacted on X, congratulating this decision. “The administrative court did not recognize their interest in taking action and they lost in both battles. The poor people make me sad,” she wrote.

The Paris administrative court had also been seized of the holding of a conference by Rima Hassan at Sciences Po and had ordered the school on Friday, November 22, to maintain the debate.