France freezes assets of Sciences & Education and Ezdine Hachem

The Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty ordered, by a decree dated October 15, 2026, the freezing of assets of the association Sciences & Education, domiciled in Montpellier, and of Mr. Ezdine HACHEM, born on November 9, 1972, in Nouakchott (Mauritania). The text, published in the JORF No. 0243 of October 17, 2026, under NOR: ECOT2627205A, takes effect from the date of this publication and runs for six months. The direct or indirect provision, as well as the use of the targeted funds and economic resources, are prohibited for the same duration.

The decree is issued “having regard to the monetary and financial code, in particular articles L. 562-2 et seq.,” which is the national asset-freezing regime applicable to the fight against the financing of terrorism. The mechanism therefore does not stem from a European or UN decision, but from a French administrative measure signed jointly by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The delay between the signature on October 15 and the publication on October 17 is two days.

The text is part of an ongoing practice: since August 12, 2026, the Official Journal has published nineteen decrees of this type, targeting natural persons of various nationalities and profiles, each for a duration of six months from its publication.

The exact scope of the measure

The freeze covers three distinct circles of funds and economic resources:

• those belonging to, possessed, held, or controlled by the association Sciences & Education, created on July 27, 2018, and declared on August 1, 2018, at the prefecture of Hauts-de-Seine under number W922012754, domiciled at Building B, 3 ter, avenue de Maurin, in Montpellier (34);
• those belonging to, possessed, held, or controlled by Mr. Ezdine HACHEM, born on November 9, 1972, in Nouakchott;
• those belonging to legal entities or any other entity themselves held or controlled by Mr. Ezdine HACHEM, or acting knowingly on his behalf or under his instructions.

The measure is therefore not limited to the accounts of the association and the natural person: by design, it extends to any intermediate or shell structure of which the interested party is the beneficial owner or the instructing party.

A prohibition enforceable upon publication

The decree prohibits, for six months, the direct or indirect provision and the use of funds or economic resources for the benefit of the association, Mr. Ezdine HACHEM, and the entities he controls, holds, or which act knowingly on his behalf. The wording used is that of national freezing decrees: it targets financing, hosting, or any other material support, regardless of the amount.

In practical terms, publication in the Official Journal makes the measure enforceable against credit institutions, financial organizations, and any third party likely to hold or handle assets on behalf of the targeted persons.

Two months to contest

The text explicitly outlines the channels and deadlines for appeal, which are open for two months from the date of notification:

• an informal appeal (recours gracieux) to the Minister of the Interior, Directorate of Public Liberties and Legal Affairs, Place Beauvau, 75800 Paris Cedex 08;
• an informal appeal (recours gracieux) to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, 139, rue de Bercy, 75572 Paris Cedex 12, teledoc 233, at the address liste-nationale@dgtresor.gouv.fr;
• a contentious appeal before the Administrative Court of Paris, 7, rue de Jouy, 75181 Paris Cedex 04.

For readers — banks, associations, payment service providers, real estate intermediaries, or advisors —, the decree creates an immediate obligation of vigilance: any flow for the benefit of Sciences & Education, Mr. Ezdine HACHEM, or a linked entity must be blocked, and the measure runs until mid-April 2027 unless otherwise decided. The text does not specify the factual grounds that led to the listing, which are based on elements transmitted to the signatory ministers.

Source: Official Journal of the French Republic, JORF No. 0243 of October 17, 2026, decree of October 15, 2026, implementing articles L. 562-2 et seq. of the Monetary and Financial Code, NOR: ECOT2627205A.