Civitas, a controversial Catholic association, was dissolved by the government in October 2023 following anti-Semitic remarks made during its summer school.
This Monday, December 30, the Council of State confirmed the government's decision to dissolve the Civitas association. “The positions taken by the Civitas association propagate ideas or theories tending to justify or encourage discrimination, hatred or violence” justifies the jurisdiction. The Council of State highlights in particular the commemorations organized by the association during the anniversary of the death of Philippe Pétain as well as the tributes paid “to personalities favorable to collaboration with the enemy during the Second World War”.
The highest French administrative court also denounced the remarks “with explicitly or implicitly anti-Semitic connotations” held “regularly” by the executives of the association. The hostile positions held by Civitas officials towards “groups of people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity” notably motivated this decision.
“ignominious remarks”
The association, created in 1999 then transformed into a political party in 2016, was dissolved in October 2023 following anti-Semitic remarks made by the essayist Pierre Hillard during the movement's summer universities. “Before 1789, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist could not become French. For what? Because they were heretics (…) The naturalization of Jews in 1791 opened the door to immigration (…) We should perhaps return to the situation before 1789!” he declared.
Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior at the time, took the matter very seriously and undertook to dissolve the association by denouncing “ignominious remarks”. Olivier Véran, then government spokesperson, even accused Civitas of calling for “go to war against the Republic”including by using “to strength”. The association appealed this decision to the Council of State, which has just rejected its request.
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