French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the mosque regularly hosted a speaker who “acts as a regular imam” and reportedly made remarks that “glorify jihad and the fighters, whom he describes as heroes.”

 

21 mosques have been closed in France in recent months for “inciting hatred” and “violence” against Christians, Jews and homosexuals, French Interior Minister  Gerald Darmanin said.

Invited by the tv channel LCI, the minister explained that at his request 99 mosques have been controlled in recent months.

Darmanin said the mosque also regularly hosted a speaker who “acts as a regular imam” and reportedly made remarks that “glorify jihad and the fighters, whom he describes as heroes.”

He explained that of these 99 mosques, “21 have been closed and for 6 others, closures are being considered. According to the minister, these closures were made “particularly on the basis of the  separatism law.

Last August, France adopted this separatism law that the government said aims to fight Islamic radicalism.

In addition, the minister said that “for 36 mosques, controls have shown that the law of the Republic was strictly observed. To demonstrate this, he gave the example of mosques that have “separated from an imam considered dangerous or end with foreign funding.

The minister announced that “other mosques suspected of separatism’’ continue to be monitored.

With presidential election scheduled in April 2022, Darmanon wants to send a message to Muslims in France.

“We obviously do not confuse the minority part of the places of worship suspected of separatism with the vast majority of Muslims in France who do not pose any problem,” he declared.