Geoffrey Branger / Photo credit: ALAIN JOCARD / AFP 2:11 p.m., February 20, 2024

The imam of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Mahjoub Mahjoubi, pursued by an investigation for advocating terrorism, justified his polemical remarks on the “tricolor flag” with a “slip of the tongue” and said he understood that his words could have “shocked”. Not enough to convince Jérôme Bonet, prefect of Gard, who also wishes to expel the religious leader.

“If I could have caused any offense, I apologize.” Mahjoub Mahjoubi made his

mea culpa

this Tuesday. The imam of Bagnols-sur-Cèze is being prosecuted as part of an investigation for advocating terrorism. In a sermon, he notably declared that the "tricolor flag" was a "satanic flag", specifying however that he was not talking about the French flag.

Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, however requested the expulsion of this Tunisian. The latter pleads "slip of the tongue" or even "clumsiness of language", which struggles to convince the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet. “If it’s a slip of the tongue, it lasts several tens of minutes,” he says. The prefect also reveals that Mahjoub Mahjoubi has been followed for several months by his services. 

Statements on consideration of the Jewish people

Because according to him, it is not just this preaching that poses a problem. The State representative made statements a few weeks earlier regarding the consideration of the Jewish people as an enemy people and the place of women in society.

Premons which, according to the prefect, constitute offenses and fall under the law.

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As Gérald Darmanin requested on Monday, Jérôme Bonnet wishes to withdraw his residence permit from the imam in order to be able to expel him from France. But according to Linda Kebbab, national delegate of the SGP Police-FO union, guest on Europe 1 this Tuesday morning, such an outcome seems unthinkable.

A residence permit valid until 2029

"He cannot be expelled. Because unlike the case with Mr. Iquioussen (another imam expelled from French territory on August 30, Editor's note), an administrative judicial authority had said that he was not deportable because it contravened Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights, namely the right to family life. Except that, behind, another authority broke by saying that his children were all adults and that they did not need their father. This gentleman (Imam Mahjoubi) has minor children. So, he will not be expelled,” she assures. The residence permit of Mahjoub Mahjoubi, who has lived in France for several decades with school-going children, is currently valid until August 7, 2029.