France: Judiciary Upholds Ban on Opening a New Elementary Class at Ibn Rushd Islamic School
France: Judiciary Upholds Ban on Opening a New Elementary Class at Ibn Rushd Islamic School
The administrative court in the French city of Lille has upheld a decision preventing the Ibn Rushd Islamic School from opening a new elementary class for the 2026-2027 academic year, following the rejection of a request by the Ibn Rushd group to suspend the ban. The governor of the Nord region had decided not to allow the opening of the first-grade elementary class based on a series of observations related to the educational project, funding, and compliance with the rules and values upheld in the French educational system.
This decision coincided with the administrative appeals court in Douai rejecting the appeals concerning the termination of the partnership agreement that linked the Ibn Rushd high school with the French state. The Ibn Rushd institution is among the most prominent Islamic educational institutions in Lille, having established its high school more than twenty years ago. The school operated for years under a partnership agreement with the state, adopting the French educational curriculum and being subjected to official educational oversight.
In 2023, French authorities decided to terminate the partnership contract with the school and halt government funding due to observations related to management, funding, and educational content, accusations that the institution’s administration contested, subsequently resorting to legal action.
This development occurs amid ongoing debate in France about the status of private Islamic schools, particularly after measures taken by authorities in recent years as part of their policies to combat what they describe as “separatism,” which have affected several educational institutions and religious associations. These measures have drawn criticism from Islamic and human rights circles, which argue they impose increasing pressure on Islamic institutions. Meanwhile, French authorities assert that the measures are part of enforcing laws and oversight over educational institutions to ensure adherence to the principles of the Republic.
