Muslim Preacher Calls French Flag Satanic, Deported to North Africa in only 12 Hours

 

Imam who 'called the French flag satanic' has his residency permit cancelled after living in the country since the 1980s and is deported to North Africa

• Mahjoub Mahjoubi, 52, was flown to North Africa 12 hours after he was arrested 

France has deported a Tunisian cleric who called the country's flag satanic.

Mahjoub Mahjoubi, 52, was flown to North Africa just 12 hours after his arrest over sermons said to go against French values.

His deportation last Thursday is seen as a demonstration of tough immigration laws brought in by president Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Mahjoubi had gone viral on social media after referring to France's three-coloured flag as 'satanic'.

He was arrested and deported despite living in the country since the 1980s and raising five children there.

Unlike them he did not have French citizenship and had his residency permit cancelled.

Mahjoub Mahjoubi, 52, (pictured) was flown to North Africa just 12 hours after his arrest over sermons said to go against French values

His deportation last Thursday is seen as a demonstration of tough immigration laws brought in by president Emmanuel Macron

Mr Mahjoubi had gone viral on social media after referring to France's three-coloured flag as 'satanic'

The official order for Mr Mahjoubi's expulsion said that in sermons he had given a 'retrograde, intolerant and violent' image of Islam that would encourage behaviour against French values, discrimination against women, 'tensions with the Jewish community' and 'jihadist radicalisation'.

The imam also referred to 'the Jewish people as the enemy' and called for 'the destruction of Western society', the indictment said. 

He also described the tricolore as of 'no value to Allah'.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said that the expulsion was a demonstration that a recently approved immigration law 'makes France stronger'.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said that the expulsion was a demonstration that a recently approved immigration law 'makes France stronger'

'Firmness is the rule,' said Mr Darmanin, who slammed what he called a 'radical imam who made unacceptable comments'.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13124701/imam-france-flag-deported-north-africa-immigration-laws.html