The noted Swiss philosopher Tariq Ramadan, fresh off his acquittal by a court in Geneva, had planned a little lunch with his admirers in the French city of Nice. However, the Islamophobic mayor of Nice is having none of it, and has forbidden the erudite theologian from holding his event in the city.

Many thanks to Gary Fouse for translating this article from Le Figaro:

Nice: Municipal decree filed to ban a “literary lunch” with Tariq Ramadan

On the eve of the event scheduled for Sunday, the attorneys of the Islamic scholar, accused of rape, filed a petition against the decision by Mayor Christian Estrosi.

On Friday, the city of Nice issued a municipal ban against the “literary lunch” organized by Tariq Ramadan on June 4 based on disturbing the public order, reports Liberation. The Islamic scholar, acquitted by a Geneva court on May 24 on charges of rape and sexual coercion, had announced on his Facebook account that he wanted to invite his followers to lunch at a restaurant in the Maritime Alps city.

This meeting, where some fifty guests were expected, has notably aroused the reaction of the Maritime Alps antennae of the feminist association “Nous Toutes” [All of us]. One of the officials stated that a demonstration might be staged against the holding of this event organized by the theologian [i.e. Tariq Ramadan], who remains under the threat of trial for similar acts in France.

On BFM TV, the mayor of the city, Christian Estrosi, had announced on May 26 his intention to prevent the meeting from taking place. “Our city is not one that accept those who have to answer for violence against women, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and racism,” he had stated. On Monday, however, Tariq Ramadan, a guest on the same channel, stated that he intended to hold his event on June 4. “If Mr. Estrosi decides that the city of Nice belongs to him and that he is the guardian of the dungeon, then he is free to do so, but freedom of expression is stronger than his decision,” he retorted.

Tariq Ramadan’s lawyers, for their part, have filed a petition with the administrative tribunal for which a hearing was scheduled for Saturday.