France used new immigration laws to deport the extremist imam in just 12 hours, but the target claimed he was the victim of a misunderstanding and vowed to return home.
France’s Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin praised the country’s new immigration law passed last year, saying it made it easier for the government to deport unwanted foreigners after it was applied against a radical preacher on Thursday. Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi, from Tunisia, went from being detained to being put on a plane in just 12 hours.
“Instructions have been issued to issue a ministerial expulsion order against this extremist ‘imam’ for his unacceptable statements, and he has been subject to home visits and arrest,” Darmanin said.
“Without immigration law, this would not have been possible. Firmness is the rule.”
According to the expulsion order confirmed by authorities: conservative newspaper Le Figaro, Imam Majubi was accused of advocating a range of extremist activities. The state accused him of promoting terrorism and advocating a “literally retrograde, intolerant and violent concept of Islam.” The imam is said to have discriminated against women and increased tensions with the Jewish community.
Crimes against national symbols are fairly serious crimes in France, as in several European countries where post-war efforts to prevent the return of fascism have dealt harshly with deviations from democratic norms. In this category, Imam Majubi is said to have called the French flag “of no value to Allah” and “satanic.” The comments came to light after a video of the imam’s sermon went viral on French social media earlier this week.
The order is an order rejecting the radical and unacceptable proposals of the “Imam” and expulsion arrangements for a fait accompli of visits and interrogations.
Sans la loi immigration, cela n’aurait pas pu être possible. La fermete est… https://t.co/uTJG2YbpQ5— Gerald Darmanin (@GDarmanin) February 22, 2024
Imam Mahjubi, on the other hand, insists that these accusations are ultimately a misunderstanding, claiming that he was actually talking about football in his sermon and suffered a “gaffe”, but in any case he claims that they have the right. It should be respected. He said the government’s orders under the new law were “arbitrary” and were being used as an example by the Home Secretary to promote the new law.
Imam’s lawyer said the expulsion would be challenged in court.
BFMTV report Some of the frustrations of Imam Majubi, who vowed to return to France. he said: “In the coming days and weeks, I will do everything in my power to find a loved one, find a job…I don’t belong here.” [in Tunisia]Even if it’s my country. [My family] They are on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea…I lived in this country, a country of human rights and civil rights, for 40 years. I will do everything to claim my rights. ”
France’s highly controversial immigration bill, passed by Emmanuel Macron’s government in December, required the support of Marine Le Pen’s populist anti-mass immigration group to pass. Le Pen called the bill, passed by centrist globalist Macron, an “ideological victory” for her party. Critics said the law eroded immigrants’ rights.
It may also be part of Interior Minister Darmanin’s policy to use tough laws to dramatic effect and link it very clearly to his leadership. not so secret The campaign is aimed at establishing himself as Macron’s successor, who will reach his presidential term limit in 2027.
