The closure of the Pantin mosque is "a targeting error", according to the defense

A passerby reads the prefectural order closing the Pantin mosque on October 20, 2020. REUTERS / Antony Paone

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The justice must render its decision this Tuesday, October 27 on the appeal concerning the closure of the great mosque of Pantin, decided by the prefecture.

The authorities accuse the establishment of having shared on social networks a video showing the father of a student calling for a response against Samuel Paty, a teacher in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine who was subsequently killed.

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While

has been closed

evening for " 

 ", according to a decree issued by the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis, his imam Ibrahim Doucouré, decided on Sunday 25 October to " 

 ".

This before the court decision on the appeal against the closure of this mosque.

Accused by authorities of being " 

 ," Ibrahim Doucouré announced Sunday night on Facebook: " 

 ”.

His decision was confirmed to AFP by the head of the mosque and the Muslim Federation of Pantin, M'hammed Henniche, whose organization is at the origin of the appeal against the closure of the establishment.

"

According to M'hammed Henniche's defense, this closure is unfair and only intervenes because the authorities want "to 

 ", explains Vincent Brengarth.

We also tried to make the Pantin mosque a symbol of government measures in the fight against terrorism, but what we have today highlighted is the fact that if Mr. Henniche had been able to post a part From the video of a father, he immediately recognized a moral fault knowing that no one could imagine what was going to happen, this terrorist attack.

So really, it must be given credit because the simple fact of having relayed this video would have caused the attack.

There is a demonstration which is also extremely dangerous in a rule of law, because that would lead to the closure of all the establishments which were able to relay this video.

And that would lead to taking measures against all the people who relayed this video, who wanted it in an extremely particular context, absolutely not to call for hatred, and to call for murder and assassination of this teacher.

For Me Vincent Brengarth, defense lawyer, the closure of the great mosque of Pantin "is also extremely dangerous in a state of law"

Sylvie Koffi

►

"

The authorities accuse this mosque of having shared on its Facebook page, on October 9, a video showing the father of a 4th year student at the Bois-d'Aulne college in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) outraged by a course on freedom of expression given on October 5 and 6 by Samuel Paty, the 

.

The prefecture and the government justified this decision by the " 

 " maintained by the mosque, its attendance by " 

 " and the troubled personality of Ibrahim Doucouré, according to the decree.

Trained for two years in a "

" in Yemen, reports the closure order, this imam also educated three of his children in an underground school in Bobigny.

For M'hammed Henniche's other defense lawyer, Me William Bourdon, " 

 "

The targeting of the Pantin mosque is poor targeting.

This closure is absolutely paradoxical, because all those who know M'hammed Henniche know that he embodies well what is called for by the political power in this country, that is to say a republican Islam, an Islam of France, an Islam respectful of our values ​​and our principles.

There, we have the feeling that there is a kind of injunction made to this man and to this mosque.

Who can give guarantees on everything exemplary, day and night, from floor to ceiling?

No one.

So I think this decision to close the Pantin mosque is a bad decision.

It is a decision that was made in a kind of safe packaging, the rush dimension of which everyone can clearly see.

We'll see.

Now the last word is, if I may say so, with the judge.

And then, if necessary, we will see before the Council of State and the European Court of Human Rights.

According to the defense lawyer Me William Bourdon, "if necessary, we will go before the Council of State and the European Court of Human Rights"

Sylvie Koffi

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