Protests sparked by French mayor's nativity display

A nativity scene installed in the Beziers town hall in southern France has triggered public protests over its perceived breach of the nations secularism laws. Despite legal restrictions on religious symbols in public buildings, the centre-right mayor, Robert Menard, proceeded with the Christmas installation.

Protesters gathered outside the town hall on Saturday to voice their disapproval of Menards actions. This marks the eleventh consecutive year that Menard has placed a nativity scene in the municipal building, and he has been legally reprimanded eight times for doing so.

Signs at the protest read messages such as, The nativity scene is wonderful! But not here, and cautioned against compromising the separation of church and state: To trample on secularism is to give in to the Islamists.

French law, established in 1905, strictly enforces the separation of church and state. Article 28 states: It is prohibited, in the future, to erect or affix any religious sign or emblem on public monuments or in any public place, with the exception of buildings used for worship, burial grounds in cemeteries, funerary monuments, and museums or exhibitions.

Defending his decision, Mayor Menard dismissed critics as politically motivated, saying they were grumpy people seeking to influence next years municipal elections. He emphasized the nativity scene as a cultural and communal symbol for the citizens of Beziers, telling a television station, The nativity sceneis where we come together, because its our roots and those of all the people of Beziers.

In addition to the nativity scene, Menard plans to host a Hanukkah celebration on December 15 in the town hall courtyard, which has also drawn criticism from protesters.

Sophie Mazas, a lawyer and activist with the League of Human Rights, commented, On the church steps, at your house, at my house, the nativity scene poses no problem. But in the name of the principle of secularism and the 1905 law on the separation of church and state, whose 120th anniversary we are celebrating this year, a nativity scene has no place in the courtyard of a town hall.

Menard is among roughly ten French mayors who continue to display nativity scenes in town halls despite repeated court rulings. Previously, the town of Beaucaire faced a 120,000 fine for refusing to remove its nativity scene, and Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan, similarly hosts an annual nativity display.

Menard highlighted the community appeal of the tradition, stating, Every year, we make a guest book available. It contains between 20,000 and 25,000 signatures. People love it. The nativity scene is a moment that brings everyone together. Here we dont proselytise, we simply remind everyone of a message of love.

Author: Sophia Brooks