Europe 1 with AFP 9:06 p.m., May 25, 2022
The administrative court of Grenoble on Wednesday suspended a provision of the new regulations for municipal swimming pools in the city authorizing the wearing of the burkini, considering that it "(does) seriously undermine the principle of neutrality of the public service".
The new swimming pool regulations were originally due to come into force on June 1.
The administrative court of Grenoble on Wednesday suspended a provision of the new regulations for municipal swimming pools in the city authorizing the wearing of the burkini, considering that it "(does) seriously undermine the principle of neutrality of the public service".
The court ruled following the filing by the prefect of Isère of a "secularism referral" demanding the suspension of this controversial measure.
The new swimming pool regulations, carried by the majority of the environmental mayor of Grenoble Éric Piolle, were initially to come into force on June 1.
A garment that "undermines the principle of neutrality of the public service"
The court notes that the article in question allows users to "derogate from the general rule of the obligation to wear close-fitting outfits to allow certain users to free themselves from this rule for religious purposes", and its authors thereby "seriously undermined the principle of public service neutrality".
The basis of the prefecture's request had been announced on May 15, on the eve of the examination by the Grenoble city council of a new regulation in municipal swimming pools opening the door to the burkini, but also to swimming breasts naked for women and anti-UV swimsuits for everyone.
A decision hailed by Gérald Darmanin
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin immediately welcomed this "excellent news" on Twitter.
"Following our appeal, the administrative court suspends the deliberation of the town hall of #Grenoble authorizing the + burkini + in municipal swimming pools thanks to the tools of the separatism law wanted by Emmanuel Macron!", He greeted.
The judges in summary proceedings rendered their judgment in the evening after having heard for about an hour and a half the arguments of the various parties, the prefecture of Isère on the one hand, the City of Grenoble, the controversial association Alliance Citoyenne and the League of Human Rights on the other hand, during a hearing held earlier in the afternoon.