ISTANBUL

A French administrative court on Saturday ordered the town hall of Malakoff, in Hauts-de-Seine, to remove a Palestinian flag from its building, days before France is expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

The Cergy-Pontoise administrative court’s ruling followed instructions from the Interior Ministry urging prefects to oppose the display of Palestinian flags on municipal buildings and to take the matter to the courts, BFMTV reported.

Malakoff Mayor Jacqueline Belhomme (PCF) confirmed that the flag was raised on Friday evening to “welcome France’s decision to officially recognize” Palestinian statehood, which President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce on Monday, Sept. 22.

She said police officers visited her at around 8 p.m. Friday on the order of Hauts-de-Seine prefect Alexandre Brugère, demanding the removal of the flag -- a request she refused.

In a press release earlier on Saturday, Malakoff town hall denounced what it called a “prefectural coup” and deplored the “delays that did not allow the city to present its defense, or even to be represented at the hearing.”

The municipality also questioned the legitimacy of Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who resigned earlier this week, in imposing decisions on local authorities. It noted what it described as a “difference in treatment” compared to Ukrainian flags displayed on municipal buildings since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Retailleau sent a telegram to prefects on Friday, instructing them to challenge municipal decisions to display Palestinian flags, citing the principle of public service neutrality.

“The principle of public service neutrality prohibits such displays,” the ministry said, urging prefects to bring cases before administrative courts.