French Mayor Faces Legal Action Over Refusal to Marry Undocumented Immigrant
Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers, is summoned by prosecutors after refusing to officiate a wedding involving an undocumented Algerian man, citing concerns over a 'sham marriage.'
- Robert Ménard, the mayor of Béziers, refused to officiate the marriage of a French woman and an undocumented Algerian man in July 2023, claiming the union was a 'sham marriage.'
- The Algerian man, under an expulsion order and previously convicted of theft with violence, was deported to Algeria two weeks after the marriage refusal.
- The couple filed a legal complaint, arguing that Ménard's actions violated their rights under French law and the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Ménard faces potential penalties, including up to five years in prison, a €75,000 fine, and disqualification from holding public office, depending on the outcome of the legal proceedings.
- A proposed law to allow mayors to refuse marriages involving undocumented individuals is set to be debated in the French Senate later this week, with government support for the measure.
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