The imam of the mosque, who arrived in 2017, is «known to have engaged in radical proselytism in the Bas-Rhin for a dozen years», assured Place Beauvau to AFP, confirming information from Figaro.
He shows «obvious hostility towards French society, multiplies provocative and hostile remarks to republican values and encourages the faithful in this radical vision», adds the Ministry of the Interior.
The procedure, formally initiated by the prefect of Bas-Rhin, provides for a ten-day contradictory phase during which the association managing the mosque can submit its observations, before a possible closure, the duration of which cannot exceed six months.
In detail, the imam is accused, in the eyes of Beauvau, of «spreading a Salafist Islam», of «legitimising polygamy», of «calling discrimination against Jews, homosexuals and women «, to «legitimize violence against cartoonists» and to «welcome the attacks with conspiratorial remarks», attributing them to «the French state, Islamophobic».
The Ministry of the Interior claims that, under its influence, several young people attending the mosque have become «radicalized» and that some have «left France to study in Koranic schools, in Egypt or in Yemen».
The Franco-Maghrebian and African Association of Obernai (AFMAO), which manages this place of worship, is also accused of «endorsing» the «words» and «actions» of this imam, «who have never made the ‘object of any condemnation or moderation’ on his part.
Contacted by AFP, AFMAO did not respond immediately.
“Obernai is a city of 12,000 inhabitants, we have two mosques, a Franco-Turkish one, which can accommodate 100 to 120 people, which works very well, and another managed by the Franco-Maghreb and African Association of Obernai. It is a very small association which has I think 10 to 15 members, for which we made a room available a few years ago for a cultural place», noted the mayor of the city Bernard Fischer, in office for 21 years. .
«But it gradually turned into a mosque. It only brings together a very small circle of people who come to pray there, 5 to 10 people,» he continued. «We had two alerts from people who had raised doubts (about this mosque). And four months ago I informed the association that I wanted to recover the premises, located in the middle of the place where we organize other events, next December 31. They replied that there was no problem. But in any case I do not know the individuals targeted by the Ministry of the Interior.
The Regional Council of Muslim Worship indicated for its part that it did not know this mosque, which is not a member of the body.
“Over the past two years, 23 separatist places of worship have been closed,” tweeted Gérald Darmanin.