Court in France Reinstates Badges of 2 Airport Workers

Nov. 16, 2006
Those who lost badges have not been fired, but effectively cannot work without access to secure areas of the airport.

A court on Wednesday reinstated the security clearance of two workers at Paris' largest airport who were among 72 employees - mostly Muslim - stripped of their badges in a bid to improve safety at Charles de Gaulle.

The decision of the court in suburban Cergy-Pontoise brings to four the number of workers whose security clearance has been restored. The court refused to lift the clearance of five other workers.

They were among 11 airport workers, some baggage handlers, others security guards or mail carriers - who have taken their cases to court.

Two workers had their badges returned a week ago.

In Wednesday's decision, the administrative court cleared two more, concluding that nothing in the files shows that "access to the reserved zones constitutes a threat." The court also said the case raised "serious doubts about the legality" of the decision to deny them badges.

As for the other five, the court deemed that intelligence documents show that their "behavior and relations" could "represent a potential threat to airport security."

However, the court sent the case on to another court for further study.

"We are very happy," said Eric Moutet, attorney for the seven.

The 72 workers had been stripped of security badges since May 2005 in an effort to maximize security at Charles de Gaulle airport, with officials suggesting many had links to Muslim fundamentalist or extremist groups.

Those who lost badges have not been fired, but effectively cannot work without access to secure areas of the airport.

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