French Court Upholds Six-Month Closure of Al-Ghazali Muslim School

French Court Upholds Six-Month Closure of Al-Ghazali Muslim School
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The Amiens Administrative Court has rejected emergency appeals seeking the reopening of the Al-Ghazali Muslim school in Creil, northern France, leaving in place a six-month administrative closure ordered by local authorities on September 29.

The ruling was issued on Wednesday, October 7, and reported by French media outlet Saphirnews the following day. The judge cited concerns including shortcomings in student safety and the conditions under which certain classrooms were being used, concluding that the requirements for an emergency reopening had not been met.

Opened in 2011, the school normally accommodates 258 students across primary, middle and high school levels. Its closure followed several administrative inspections.

The school’s management disputes the grounds for the closure and says renovation work has been carried out to bring the premises into compliance with applicable standards. The lawyer representing the school has criticised what he describes as unfair treatment. The managing associations may appeal the decision to France’s Council of State.

The court’s ruling concerns the emergency request to reopen the school and does not definitively settle the underlying legal dispute.

As of October 8, a fundraising campaign intended to support the school had collected more than €11,000 toward a target of €50,000. The continued closure raises concerns about educational continuity for the affected students and the institution’s future.