The Council of State announced on Monday May 16 the suspension of the dissolution of the ultra-left movement Groupe antifasciste Lyon et environs (Gale), decided on March 30 in the Council of Ministers in particular for "
its virulent incitement to attack
" the law enforcement.
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In a press release, the Council of State explains that "
the elements put forward by the Minister of the Interior do not make it possible to demonstrate that Gale incited to commit violent actions and seriously disturbed public order
".
The highest administrative court had been seized by Gale's lawyers after the government's announcement and the decree of dissolution that followed.
The alleged facts were examined during an interim release hearing on May 11.
In its order, the Council of State considers, however, that "
the elements retained in the contested decree (...) are not such as to clearly justify this dissolution
".
Freedom of expression
“
It is a very important order, very protective of freedom of expression
”, greeted AFP Me Antoine Lyon-Caen, one of the defenders of Gale.
"
Were called into question the assessments made of the
'
antifas
'
, the police and the prison, which were supposed to constitute provocations to violence
", but the Council of State rejected this argument, and considered "
that they were covered by freedom of expression
", added Me Lyon-Caen.
If the Gale "
has relayed on its social networks calls to participate in demonstrations - some of which are undeclared and which may have caused serious disturbances to public order
", for example during the "
yellow vests
" movement or against the health pass, “
the group was not at the origin of these calls
”, thus affirm the magistrates.
And “
it has not been demonstrated that the violent actions that were committed there are linked to the activities
” of the collective.
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Gale's publications on its social networks "
cannot
" either "
be looked at alone as a legitimization of the use of violence
", they still insist.
And if the Gale "
holds radical and sometimes brutal remarks
" against the police, "
we cannot consider
" that he "
called for violent actions
".
This summary-freedom “ got
to the bottom of things
”, also welcomed Me Lyon-Caen.
