U-turn on Metro poster ban

After three days of controversy the Paris Metro has rescinded its ban on a poster promoting a charity concert for Middle East Christians. The advertisements in stations are for a concert by the popular group Les Prêtres (“The Priests”). RATP, the capital’s transport authority, initially justified the ban by saying France’s secularist policy of laïcité required it to be neutral about an armed conflict abroad.

Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, denounced the ban as “absolutely scandalous and discriminatory” and a group supporting Middle East Christians announced it would file a suit against the RATP. Politicians joined in over the Easter weekend, first conservatives but eventually from across the political spectrum.

By late Monday afternoon, Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted: “Stop these sterile debates. Let’s support Middle East Christians, victims of obscurantist terrorism. The RATP should act responsibly.”

The dispute was the latest in a series of incidents signalling a stricter application of laïcité since the January Islamist killings in Paris. The RATP, which has approved ads for Ramadan, baulked at the word “Christian” and offered at one point to add a note saying proceeds would go to  a “Charity of the Orient”.

The RATP’s concession came in a single sentence saying new posters “will obviously mention” the Christians.