Testimony of a relative of the imam of Bagnols expelled for having described the tricolor flag as “satanic”

L'imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi peu avant son dernier prêche qui sera suivi de son expulsion. MIDI LIBRE – T.M.

Au lendemain de cet éloignement forcé, les proches de l'imam Mahjoubi se disent "abasourdis". The subject is eminently sensitive. Mounir(1), a relative of the religious, is willing to testify but under cover of anonymity.

"I'm not talking to the media, sorry!" It's an end of inadmissibility that's wife  the imam opposes the journalists who ring his intercom. On Thursday, February 22, this 52-year-old Tunisian responsible for the At-tawba mosque in Bagnols-sur-Cèze was expelled from France following an incredible media frenzy. This followed a video of a preaching in which the preacher declared that the "tricolor flag" was a "satanic flag". 

"Sensitive subject"

In the aftermath of this forced removal, those close to the imam Mahjoubi say they are "stunned" . The subject is eminently sensitive. Mounir(1), a relative of the religious, is willing to testify but under cover of anonymity. " We're going to let the lawyer take the necessary steps to clear the imam" he declares. "It's very hard for everyone close to him. We have a lump in our stomach. Over three to four days we experienced something crazy.  The procedure was expeditious. The family is upset. It is even more so since one of the five children of the siblings suffers from cancer."  

"Respect the flag"

Mounir says he hopes "that justice does its job properly". The idea once mentioned of an action that would be taken to defend the imam no longer seems relevant. "With the expulsion order which was  taken, we can take out the sum of 1M€, it will be of no use" underlines the faithful of the At-tawba mosque. He readily concedes: "The flag is France. It must be respected".  Mounir  describes  Mahjoub Mahjoubi as the one who fights nationalism.

"Presumption of innocence"

At the time, the At-tawba mosque belonged to Algerian veterans. According to the preacher's friend,   "it's the arrival of the Tunisian imam who broke this scourge of nationalism which caused divisions within the communities of the faithful who frequented the place of worship of Mont-Cotton". Mounir also pleads in favor of the presumption of innocence. He says he hopes that investigators will watch the videos of the expelled imam. Mounir also says he understands the anger of the mayor of Bagnols-sur-Cèze "given everything that is happening".

1) Borrowed first name.