The Pantin mosque, which brings together around 1,300 worshipers, was closed in October following the assassination of Samuel Paty.

The establishment will reopen on Friday with a new rector and a new imam at its head, two conditions set by the Minister of the Interior.

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The faithful awaited the news.

Closed on October 21 in the wake of the assassination of Samuel Paty, the Pantin mosque will reopen on Friday with a new rector and a new imam at its head, two conditions set by the Minister of the Interior.

The new rector, Abderrahman Dramé, has given pledges to the prefecture.

"We discussed at length. Our practices respect republican law. We live under the Republic, so we must respect it," he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. 

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This mosque of about 1,300 faithful had been closed for six months on the instruction of the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, who notably reproached his officials for having relayed on Facebook the video of a father of a pupil who was responsible for the gear that led to the murder of the history and geography professor of Conflans-Saint-Honorine. 

"It's a good gesture", rejoices a faithful 

After this tragedy, the Interior Ministry had promised "a war against the enemies of the Republic" and launched a series of operations against the Islamist movement.

In his viewfinder appeared the former imam of the Pantin mosque, trained in Yemen and suspected of being "involved" in this movement.

The latter had resigned on October 26 and a new imam will take over.

What to find a little serenity, hope the faithful.

"I am for the imams of France, those who are trained in secularism", testifies a fifty-something happy to be able to come back to pray. 

Deprived of "their" mosque, the inhabitants of Pantin deplored this blockage, forced to go to pray at the mosque in the neighboring town of Drancy.

Some also consider this early reopening, five days before Ramadan, as a sign of consideration on the part of the authorities.

"It's a good gesture, because when someone does something stupid, he pays. Why charge everyone?"

The most impatient faithful will be able to come on Thursday to restore their mosque before the official reopening.