A “slip of the tongue” which does not convince the authorities.
Tuesday, the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet, returned to the defense of the Tunisian imam of the Bagnols-sur-Cèze mosque (Gard), Mahjoub Mahjoubi, at the heart of a preliminary investigation opened for “apology of terrorism” by the Nîmes public prosecutor's office and threatened with withdrawal of his residence permit by Gérald Darmanin.
The cleric has been under fire from criticism since the broadcast of a controversial sermon on February 9 in which he speaks in particular of a “tricolor flag” as “a satanic flag” which has “no value with Allah” .
Two sermons targeted
“It is not this extract of video which justified the reaction of the Ministry of the Interior, assured Jérôme Bonet on franceinfo, who is surprised by “a slip of the tongue which lasts several tens of minutes, which does not only affect 'to the question of the flag'.
He mentions comments about the place of women and which designates the Jewish people as an enemy.
The prefect also pointed out the content of “several sermons” constituting “calls to hatred”.
Contacted by Le Parisien, the Gard prefecture confirms that another sermon is in question, dated February 2, without further specifying its content.
The two videos, lasting several tens of minutes, have disappeared from social networks since Monday, indicate the prefectural services.
Jérôme Bonet also mentioned monitoring the Bagnols-sur-Cèze mosque, “probably adrift” for several months.
The prefecture confirms an administrative control in November 2023 which led to the suspension of the collective reception of minors in the Attawba mosque by a prefectural decree still in force.
Two reasons are put forward: non-compliance with the standards for this establishment open to the public as well as reasons relating to the educational program and the supervision of children.
“We learn with our arms hanging that he would have made remarks against our compatriots of the Jewish faith.
It never existed,” the imam’s lawyer, Me Samir Hamroun, reacted this Tuesday on franceinfo, assuring that his client did not understand “the prefect’s allusions.”
“I advocate peace”
On TikTok, the imam's account with 590 subscribers remained accessible this Tuesday.
He published a video there to thank his supporters and reassure him about his “moral state”.
“I am a very hard person to bring down,” he says to the camera.
You all know that I advocate peace and justice.
In no way in my speech did I devalue the French flag or France.
» And to recall his version of the facts, that of a “slip of the tongue” in a sermon condemning disunity, while ensuring that he had “complete confidence in French justice”.
The day before, he had posted a video repeating his controversial sermon, interspersed with freeze frames and texts to prove his good faith.
Also read: Anti-France preaching by imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi: “It’s crass stupidity”
On the account of the imam, several sermons dating from this summer call for “good behavior” from Muslims.
In June, he notably encouraged his audience to “not degrade” the public good and to be “worthy” of religion at the time of the riots following the death of Nahel.