Far-right MEP Marion Maréchal is scheduled to appear before the Valence criminal court on Thursday, October 16, to face defamation charges stemming from comments she made on CNews regarding a Muslim school. In an October 2023 broadcast, she accused the private institution of being affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The association Valeurs et Réussite, which oversees the school, subsequently initiated legal proceedings. During her appearance, Marion Maréchal asserted that the Valence school was «an association of the Muslim Brotherhood». She further claimed, «It's an Islamist movement with the same objective as Al-Qaeda and Daesh, which is to impose Sharia law worldwide». Previously, Maréchal had been the leading candidate for the Reconquête party in the European elections, and in Valence, the independent Muslim private school became a focal point of controversy due to its expansion plans. The school's attorney, Jean-Yves Dupriez, emphasized that the statements «damage the honor and reputation of the school, with baseless accusations». He reported that the school suffered moral damage, receiving written threats following the complaint against Marion Maréchal. Additionally, several projects with the association's partners were canceled. As reported by ICI, Mr. Jean-Yves Dupriez is contemplating seeking damages and requesting that the elected official publish any potential conviction on social media. Marion Maréchal faces a potential fine of 12,000 euros.
