Anti-Halal Rally Banned in Lyon

Once again French authorities have banned a demonstration against Islam, in this case against halal, one inevitable consequence of the Islamic presence in France. In April, the Bloc Identitaire of Lyon, known as Rebeyne, announced a "Pig March" ("Marche des Cochons"), to be held on May 14, to protest unlabeled halal meat being sold all over France as standard meat. In a long interview conducted by Riposte Laïque, posted at Novopress, Damien Rieu, the Rebeyne leader, explains what this rally is about:

- Why this initiative and aren't you afraid of once again being called provocateurs?

- Today, Islam is at the center of the public discourse. But the question of halal that concerns all French consumers has not been discussed by the media or the politicians. People don't know they're eating halal. Like many issues today, for example, prayers in the street, all you have to do is to inform them and they react. Who would willingly eat chicken slaughtered in the name of Allah? Who approves of senseless animal suffering? What consumer would willingly pay an Islamic tax included in the price of a turkey cutlet? What responsible parent would not become indignant if pork were banned from the school cafeteria? But they have to be aware. That's the goal of this demonstration - to inform the public on this matter, and to do it with humor.

We accept our image as provocateurs. We provoke debate. But in reality, who is provoking whom in this matter of halal? Islam puts us to the test every day to see how far we will go in the name of tolerance. It is time to respond politely but firmly: we will not back off any more. That's the message we want to get across.

The interview goes back over some previous demonstrations by the Bloc Identitaire and then goes on to the possibility of a ban:

- Back to May 14. Aren't you afraid of a ban, or of counter-demonstrations by the Left that could serve as an excuse for a ban?

- It seems to me very unlikely that left-wing activists would rise up against labeling on halal food or the return of pork to school cafeterias. These are the two demands that we are making through the "Marche des Cochons". I think that there is unanimity on the Left, the Right, up and down. Anyway, we received supportive e-mails from elected officials on the Left as well as on the Right. It's common sense.

- Is your group the only organizer, or are you open to other parties and all citizens who favor your initiative?

- The "Marche des Cochons" is organized by a collective open to all. We are inviting concerned citizens, consumer groups, butchers, pork butchers, those who fight for laïcité, those who fight for animal rights, those who raise pigs, to participate with us on Saturday May 14 in Lyon.

(…) It's an event not to be missed. Just like the wine and sausage "apéro" at the place de l'Etoile or the "Assises de l'Islamisation", we'll be proud to say "I was there."

Both the "apéro" and the "assises" were covered at GalliaWatch.

Above, the original poster announcing the "Marche des Cochons" for May 14.

On April 28 Novopress announced that leaders of the Green Party had requested of the prefect, Jean-François Carenco, that he ban the "Marche des Cochons". In their letter the Greens denounced:

"a direct stigmatization of citizens of the third religions" (…) "such demands cannot be made in the public sphere."

Novopress notes the irony:

Not very ecological of these "greens" to support the slaughter of animals without first stunning them and their death after horrible suffering.

Note: What do the "greens" mean by "third religions"? I assume the first is Catholicism, the second is Protestanism, and both Judaism and Islam are in "third" place.

On May 2 a letter was sent from the Prefect of the Rhône-Alpes region to the director of security of the department of the Rhône informing him of his decision to ban the demonstration and instructing him to inform the organizers. Attached to the letter was the ban itself, a longer document explaining point by point the justifications for the prefect's decision. Here are a few points:

- Considering that this demonstration is such that it would set citizens against each other and is, in a way, a pretext for social discord;

- Considering that, without overtly condoning racist or xenophobic positions, it points to a religious practice for the purpose of denouncing it, which is contrary to the laïcité of the Republic;

Note: As a reason for banning a rally protesting the spread of ritually slaughtered animal meat throughout a secular Republic, this is very dubious. Wouldn't the rally be, on the contrary, faithful to the laws of the Republic?

- Considering that a demonstration declared by a collective against the extreme right has been organized in reaction to the "marche des cochons";

- Considering that public peace and tranquility are objectives to be preserved in the general interest;

and so on…

Below a poster addressed to boy and girl pigs calling on them to resist, since they have been deprived of their freedom of speech.


As of now, Rebeyne of Lyon is abiding by the prefect's ban. Though they have canceled their demonstration, they say they will organize some kind of gathering on Saturday May 14. A press conference is called for today (Monday).

Latest update: The Bloc Identitaire of Lyon has announced that it will hold a "rally for freedom" ("rassemblement pour la liberté") on Saturday May 14 at place Saint-Jean in Lyon. Below the new poster.