Overview
- Education Minister Édouard Geffray told RMC on Friday he has asked the bâtonnier of the Ordre des avocats de Paris to examine whether Me Francis Vuillemin violated the lawyers’ code of deontology.
- The referral follows reports that Vuillemin, defence counsel for preacher Abdelhakim Sefrioui, publicly said Samuel Paty “procédait à la discrimination des élèves musulmans” during the appeal hearing in the Paty case.
- Geffray cited the deontology rules that require lawyers to show delicacy, courtesy, memory and moderation outside the courtroom and said the comments had offended many in the education community.
- The Paris Bar’s review is now pending and could lead to a professional ethics inquiry or disciplinary steps, but no outcome has been announced and the move does not substitute for any judicial process.
- Geffray also said the film L’Abandon is of public interest but must not be imposed on teachers or pupils and that a pedagogical dossier will be made available for teachers who choose to use it.