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French Mayor Suspends Council Meeting After Councilor Prays Hail Mary, Displays Cross
🇭🇺 Hungary /Culture & Society

French Mayor Suspends Council Meeting After Councilor Prays Hail Mary, Displays Cross

From Magyar Nemzet · () Hungarian

Translated from Hungarian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A French council meeting was suspended after a councilor displayed a crucifix and recited the Hail Mary.
  • The communist mayor called the act a "political crime" and accused the councilor of inciting division.
  • The councilor defended his actions as a protest against the mayor's perceived "double standards" regarding religious symbols in council meetings.

A municipal council meeting in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, was abruptly suspended after a local councilor, Kevin Nader, displayed a crucifix and recited the Hail Mary prayer. The incident occurred in response to the communist mayor's refusal to ban the Islamic veil within the council chamber.

Mayor Bouyssou reacted with anger, labeling Nader's actions a "political crime" and immediately halting the session. He accused Nader of crossing boundaries and "stigmatizing" fellow councilors, stating, "This is a disgrace, a real scandal. You have crossed all boundaries in a few hours." The mayor later filed a complaint with the Val-de-Marne prefect, alleging that Nader undermined republican values and sowed division.

This is a disgrace, a real scandal. You have crossed all boundaries in a few hours.

— Mayor BouyssouThe mayor's reaction to Councilor Kevin Nader displaying a crucifix and reciting the Hail Mary during a municipal council meeting.

Nader defended his demonstration, asserting it was intended to highlight what he perceives as the mayor's "double standards." He questioned the consistency of upholding religious neutrality while allowing women wearing Islamic veils to be present in council meetings. "Secularism is either for everyone, or for no one," Nader stated, emphasizing his belief that the principle of secularism should be applied universally.

Secularism is either for everyone, or for no one.

— Kevin NaderCouncilor Kevin Nader explaining his stance on religious neutrality and his actions during the council meeting.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Magyar Nemzet in Hungarian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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