France’s top administrative court validates the expulsion of Hassan Iquioussen, an imam accused of hate speech.
According to a tweet from French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, citing the Council of State, „The Council of State validates the expulsion of Mr Iquioussen who propagates particular antisemitic comments and contrary to equality between women and men,” reports The Jerusalem Post. Darmanin claims that expelling the imam from French national territory is a major victory.
According to Reuters, on August 5, an administrative court in Paris suspended the deportation order against Iquioussen.
In July, the interior ministry ordered the deportation of Imam Hassan Iquioussen for allegedly having given „a speech filled with incitements of hatred and discrimination.” According to the ministry, he was also „promoting a vision of Islam contradicting the values of the Republic.” An administrative court in Paris suspended the deportation order against Iquioussen on August 5, but the Council of State validated his expulsion from the state.
An interior ministry lawyer told the Council of State last week that Iquioussen „has for years spread insidious ideas that are nothing less than an incitement to hatred, to discrimination and to violence.” The 38-year-old imam was born in France and has dual citizenship with Morocco. He has tens of thousands of subscribers to his YouTube and Facebook accounts.
Iquioussen’s lawyer claims the imam will appeal the decision.