French court reinstates funding for Muslim high school after government cuts

Victory for Averroes High School highlights legal challenge to France’s crackdown on Muslim schools

Lille, FRANCE (MNTV) – An administrative court in Lille overturned the French government’s 2023 decision to withdraw public funding from Averroes High School, the country’s largest Muslim educational institution, in a case viewed by rights groups as emblematic of broader restrictions targeting Muslim schools.

Established in 2003 in Lille, Averroes High School serves 800 students and has been under state contract since 2008. 

While following the French national curriculum, the school also offers religion classes.

The funding cut, implemented by the local prefecture, was justified on grounds of alleged administrative and financial irregularities and claims that some teaching practices conflicted with French republican values. 

However, the court ruled Wednesday that the prefecture failed to provide sufficient evidence of such violations, according to Reuters. 

While acknowledging issues like the school’s refusal of an unannounced inspection, the court stated these did not warrant terminating its state contract.

“This is a victory for the rule of law,” Averroes said in a statement, emphasizing its commitment to excellence and its dedication to serving students.

As a result of the ruling, the school’s state contract is automatically reinstated, according to Paul Jablonski, the institution’s legal representative. 

He expressed hope that the prefecture would refrain from appealing the decision.