A French administrative court upheld a ban on a neo-Nazi march in Paris scheduled for May 9, 2025 [3].
The ruling underscores the French government's effort to curb the visibility of radical far-right groups and prevent civil unrest in the capital. This ban represents the first time since 2008 [4] that the annual event by this specific group has been legally prohibited.
The march was organized by the Comité du 9-Mai, a radical far-right and neo-Nazi group founded in 1994 [1]. The organization was established following the death of Sébastien Deyzieu. The group intended to use the event to pay tribute to Quentin Deranque, and to demonstrate its continued presence and expansion in France [1].
Authorities and the prefect of police initially banned the gathering, citing concerns that the demonstration would disturb public order. The administrative court confirmed the prefectural decree on May 8, 2025 [3].
Despite the legal prohibition, reports regarding the actual outcome of the day are contradictory. Some sources said the march did not take place due to the court's decision [3]. However, other reports indicated that several hundred far-right militants defied the ban and marched through the streets of Paris on Saturday afternoon [2]. These reports described the presence of Celtic crosses and Nazi symbols during the unauthorized procession [2].
"The court confirmed the prefectural decree that prohibited the neo-fascist Parisian demonstration," MSN said [3].
“The ban represents the first time since 2008 that the annual event by this specific group has been legally prohibited.”
The tension between the judicial ban and the reported presence of several hundred militants highlights a challenge for French security forces in managing small but highly ideological extremist groups. The fact that this is the first ban of its kind since 2008 suggests a shift in the state's tolerance for neo-Nazi public displays, reflecting a broader strategy to isolate radical far-right elements from the public square.
