Paris, France – French authorities have officially banned the 40th annual meeting of the Muslim Association of France (RAMF), historically known as the Bourget gathering, which is ideologically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. The meeting was scheduled to take place from April 3 to 6 at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center. A senior French police official confirmed that the ban was based on security assessments indicating serious threats to public order. He emphasized that these assessments warranted raising the alert level to its highest point.
Reasons for the ban and the security context
Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure announced via the X platform that the order was issued at the direct request of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Faure explained that this exceptional measure comes in a “highly sensitive national and international context.” He pointed to the escalating terrorist threats and the risk of public disorder. Therefore, these circumstances necessitate a significant police presence on the streets in the coming days. This heightened tension is linked domestically to the recent foiled bomb attack targeting Bank of America offices in Paris. Security reports have also connected this incident to the repercussions of the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other.
Political pressure and the designation of the “Muslim Brotherhood”
The ban on the gathering, organized by the Union of Muslims of France (formerly the UOIF), comes at a time of heightened political tensions against what Paris describes as “political Islam.” In early 2016, the French National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the Muslim Brotherhood to be designated a terrorist organization at the European level. The resolution was based on reports warning of the ideological influence and foreign funding of its affiliated networks. Organizers had hoped to revive the event this year after it was suspended in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gathering is a major platform that attracts thousands of participants from across Europe for spiritual and business discussions.
Reactions and legal proceedings
For his part, Makhlouf Mamich, head of the organizing body for the forum, confirmed receiving the ban. He also stated the organization’s intention to file an urgent legal appeal against the decision with the relevant judicial authorities. While the authorities insist the ban is necessary to protect national security under the current state of “maximum alert,” the organizers view the decision as a restriction on cultural and religious activities. This opens the door to a new legal and political confrontation regarding the limits of public freedoms in France amidst the ongoing regional and international crises.
