French Court Upholds Sciences Po's Ban on Rima Hassan's Conference

The Conseil d'État ruled that the university's decision was justified due to public order concerns, overturning a prior tribunal ruling.

The Conseil d'État supported Sciences Po Paris' decision to prohibit a conference by LFI MEP Rima Hassan, citing risks of public unrest.
The ruling reversed a November 22 Paris tribunal decision that had ordered the university to allow the event on arms embargoes to Israel.
Sciences Po argued that Hassan's prior support for campus protests and blockades contributed to the decision to deny the venue request.
Hassan’s lawyer criticized the ruling as a troubling precedent for freedom of expression, disputing claims that her presence posed a disruption risk.
Similar bans on Hassan's appearances have occurred at other universities, though a Strasbourg court recently deemed one such ban illegal.