World Jewish News

Court in France cancels decision of city to no longer offer substitute non-pork menus in school canteens

A French administrative court has canceled the decision of the city of Chalon-sur-Saone to no longer offer substitute non-pork menus in school canteens for Muslim and Jewish students, evoking "the best interests of the child".

The ruling of the Administrative Court of Dijon came after a Muslim organization, The League of Muslim Judicial Advocacy, had sued the local authority at Chalon-sur-Saone in Burgundy, in east-central France, challenging its decision in 2015 to stop providing a no-pork alternative in its school cafeterias. The League considered that the removal of the alternative menus was "illegal" and "discriminatory" and that it represented a "violation of freedom of conscience and worship ".

The Dijon Administrative Court did not examine the League argument of a possible violation of "freedom of conscience and worship" but preferred to invoke "the best interests of the 'child".

The National Advisory Commission on Human Rights, when asked to do so, had considered that the removal of alternative menus was based on a "misinterpretation of the principles of secularism and equality."

The judge did not address the question of secularism, but preferred to limit himself to more technical considerations concerning the organization of public services, noting that "the alternative menu had been proposed at Chalon-sur-Saône since 1984 without any debate ".

The Mayor of the city has decided to appeal the decision.

EJP