Justice authorizes Beziers to retain its crib – BBC

Justice authorizes Beziers to retain its crib – BBC

The Montpellier Administrative Court on Friday rejected a request from a Beziers and the League of Human Rights to remove the crib installed by Robert Ménard in the lobby of the town hall. Answer Monday for the establishment in Melun.

The mayor of Béziers (Hérault) will finally be able to keep his crib. The Administrative Court (TA) in Montpellier on Friday rejected a request from a Beziers and the League of Human Rights to remove this Christmas emblem installed in City Hall by Mayor Robert Ménard. The aedile, near the FN, decided in early December to install its figurines in the lobby of the town hall, provoking the ire of Communist politicians and secularism protection associations.

In a judgment five pages, Marianne Hardy judge justifies its decision by default of emergency, “in the absence of special circumstances that could result in particular of disturbing public order.” “It is not the result of the investigation nor the explanations provided at the hearing that the decision to install a crib in the lobby would be likely to cause” damage “to the principles of secularism and neutrality,” she wrote.

In the morning, the plaintiffs’ lawyer had yet denounced “an attack on secularism.” The nativity “symbolizes” the birth of Christ, an event “at the heart of the Christian religion,” pleaded Me Sophie Mazas. The side of the defense, counsel for the city of Beziers, Me Raphaëlle Hiault-Spitzer assured that this crib had “nothing to worship,” but it was “cultural” and therefore do not violate the law 1905 which prohibits the emblems (the cross, the veil …) and religious symbols.

Earlier in the day, that’s another nativity who ended the heart of the controversy. At Melun, defenders of secularism asked the UMP mayor of this town in Seine-et-Marne, Gerard Millet, removing the one he settled for several years in the lobby of City Hall. “This crib is not a religious symbol but a manifestation of a religious fact. It is a tradition, a fact popular, “said their lawyer of the Town Hall, Mr. Mathieu Pagnoux, at the hearing of the Administrative Court of Melun Friday morning. For its part, the public rapporteur found that this crib represented “a good episode of the Nativity,” advocating uninstall the crib. The court, which often follows the recommendations of the rapporteur public, will make its decision on Monday. There are some days, the Nantes Administrative Court had directed the General Council of the Vendée, old land of Catholic tradition, to dismantle its nativity installed in the lobby of its premises. The General Co uncil has appealed.