'Racist' internet apéros banned
'Wine and saucisson' party aimed to stand up against 'islamification' of parts of Paris and coincided with Friday prayers
ANTI-RACISM campaigners have succeeded in getting a Paris "wine and saucisson" party banned because it is deliberately provocative to Muslims.
The June 18 event was organised through Facebook like other recent apéritifs géants and has attracted more than 3,500 members.
It was due to be held in the ethnically diverse Goutte d'Or district in the city's 18th arrondissement at 19.00 on June 18 - around the same time that Muslims in the area will be heading to evening prayers and Algeria plays England in the World Cup.
The event aims to celebrate French local produce and stand up against what organisers say is the "islamification" of parts of Paris.
The online announcement calls for "native-born Parisians" to take part. It says the Goutte d'Or is "occupied, especially on Fridays, but people who are resolutely against our local wines and butchers' produce".
The party was supported by several far-right groups, including the Bloc Identitaire which is helping with the organisation and promotion.
The Conseil Représentatifs des Associations Noires, which represents black community groups, asked the mayor and préfet of Paris to ban the event.
SOS Racisme president Dominique Sapo said the event was "hateful" and "clearly anti-Arab and anti-Muslim".
Event organiser Sylvie François told Europe 1: "I wanted to express my anger about the islamification of the Goutte d'Or. It will be a family event - there will be no French flag-waving."
The Paris préfecture confirmed this afternoon that the event was banned.
