The place of worship may have become a “place of radicalisation”, according to the municipality, which refers to “statements made by the former head of the mosque”.
The prefecture recalls that a law “provides that the representative of the state in the department may order the temporary closure of places of worship where the statements made there, the ideas or theories disseminated or the activities carried out incite hatred or violence against a person or a group of persons, or tend to justify or promote such hatred or violence”.
It argues that the Al Madina Al Mounawara mosque “propagates Sharia law, supports radical Islam and thereby promotes separatist secession” and states that ” dubious relations have been established with persons belonging to the radical Islamist movement and advocating pro-jihadist views”. On social networks, the place of worship had spread “hate speech against France, its institutions and laws”, displayed “hate speech against homosexuals or transsexuals” and “explicit anti-Semitic hatred”, the authorities said.
“This decision comes after careful investigative work by the state authorities and numerous indications given directly by the municipality since 2015,” explained City Hall.
Incidentally, on CNews, Gérald Darmanin reported that he had spoken to LR mayor David Lisnard and that he “courageously” supported this decision to initiate administrative closure proceedings.
“For some time, several years even, the mayor has been sounding the alarm about what is happening there, what is being published on social networks,” the director general of services confirmed to 20 Minutes. According to Thierry Migoule, the authorities took this decision because the facility had become “a place of radicalisation” and because of “the opinions of the former head”. 20 Minutes