French Court Orders Sciences Po to Reschedule Rima Hassan's Conference
The tribunal ruled that canceling the event violated freedom of expression, directing the university to find a new date under conditions ensuring public order.
- The Paris Administrative Tribunal ruled that Sciences Po's decision to cancel Rima Hassan's conference was an unlawful infringement on freedom of expression and assembly.
- The conference, titled 'Perspectives on an Arms Embargo on Israel,' was initially blocked by the university over concerns about potential public disturbances.
- Judges determined that the event's technical focus and planned security measures did not justify the cancellation, and no evidence of counter-protests was presented.
- Rima Hassan, an LFI Member of the European Parliament, celebrated the ruling as a victory for free speech and vowed to challenge similar bans at other universities.
- This decision follows a broader trend of legal challenges against canceled events discussing Palestine, with similar rulings overturning bans at Lille and Paris-Dauphine universities.
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