France to deport Tunisian imam for preaching against France

France's Interior Minister has asked for a Tunisian imam to be stripped of his French residence permit, after authorities were alerted to his anti-French preaching.

Interior Minister Gerarld Darmanin said that Mahjoub Mahjoubi, an imam in Bagnols-sur-Céze, near Avignon, in the south of France, would be deported.

“I have asked for the repeal of his residence permit in preparation for his deportation,” he wrote on X on Sunday, adding that “no call to hate will be left unanswered”.

Authorities in the Gard region where Mahjoubli preached had been alerted to his anti-French statements, according to BFM television.

In a video that was widely circulated on social media, Mahjoubli, a member of the local Muslim association,said the French flag had a “satanic value”.

He said that the flag was put “ahead of the rule of Allah”, and was intended to divide Muslims.

Sermon

“These satanic flags are worth nothing to Allah,” he said.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Mahjoubli said he regretted his choice of words in a sermon he said was about the end of days, and not intended to be against France.

"It was intended to remind Muslims in the mosque the need to unite under one authority," he said. "These words were also an occasion to talk about, while the Africa cup of nations was happening, the need for all not to oppose each other behind their own flag".

An hour before announcing the deportation order, Darmanin wrote that security services have "intensified the fight against radical and political Islam", at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, deporting 26 percent more people last year, compared to 2022.