The decree from the Rhône prefecture mentions the fear of clashes between small ultra-left and ultra-right groups, in a context of strong mobilization of mobile police forces in Paris for this high-tension match.
Even 500 kilometers from the Stade de France, state services fear a tense evening. In the very sensitive context of the Nations League football match between France and Israel this Thursday in Saint-Denis, the prefect of Rhône issued an order prohibiting demonstrations targeting a demonstration of support for Palestine in the streets of Lyon.
A demonstration declaration was filed on the theme of the release of Georges Abdallah, named after this pro-Palestinian Lebanese Marxist activist detained in France for four decades for complicity in the assassination of two diplomats.
Scheduled for 7 p.m., it is authorized, within a restricted perimeter, which runs from Place des Terreaux to Quai Serlin to allow demonstrators to leave the heart of the Presqu’île towards La Guillotière. However, all surrounding streets are closed to demonstrators.
Fear of clashes
Furthermore, the decree of the prefect of Rhône, Fabienne Buccio, prohibits any gathering other than that declared. The call to demonstrate for Georges Abdallah had in fact been joined by collectives such as Urgence Palestine, collective Palestine 69, Jeune Garde or the Revolutionary Youth League. Urgence Palestine thus called for a torchlight march “against genocide”.
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The decree consulted by the Figaro mentions in particular the fear of confrontations between small ultra-left and ultra-right groups, recurring in the capital of Gaul. He also recalls that numerous mobile forces are concentrated in the Paris region to ensure the safety of spectators, reducing the local police forces supervising the demonstration.
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