The faithful speak after the expulsion of the imam of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, “I didn’t think it would go so quickly”

La mosquée At-Tawba était fermée ce vendredi 23 février. Midi Libre – Chloé Lopez

The faithful were unable to pray at the At-Tawba mosque in Bagnols-sur-Cèze this Friday, February 23, the day after the expulsion of imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi. Some therefore went to the other mosque in the city, An-Hour.

"No Jumuaa prayer. With our sincere apologies."At the entrance to the At-Tawda mosque in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, these few words were written in capital letters on an A4 sheet this Friday, February 23, the day after the expulsion to the Tunisia of Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi. "I see that there is no prayer today", comments Hakim* , arriving in front of the closed gray gate. This 54-year-old Moroccan truck driver is not a regular at the At-Tawba mosque. He came for the first time on Thursday February 22. "I am often on the roads so I go to the mosques of the towns where I stop." The father of four children "does not personally know" imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi, arrested Thursday by the police at his home. "I followed the affair on television and I don't know what to say. Religion must take place within the four walls, he explains, pointing to the mosque behind him. Outside, we are on French soil which welcomed us. We have to respect that."

"A very good imam"

Like him, other faithful were forced to turn back early in the afternoon. Some of them therefore went to the An-Hour mosque (rue Saint-Victor), known as the lower mosque, to say the Jumuaa prayer, & quot;Friday prayer". "There were a lot of people today, more than usual", underlines Jules*, a faithful Bagnolais. This 27-year-old man knows "a little" Mahjoub Mahjoubi. "He's a very good imam, you shouldn't believe what they say on TV. In the video of his sermon, he spoke about the African people, Muslims. He does not mention France, relates the man dressed in a blue qamis. It would be better to deal with the city's drug dealers rather than the imam, he said en&nbsp ;showing the Escanaux district behind him.

Same story with his friend Kevin*, also from Bagnole. "The imam was speaking to us young Muslims because football can divide people. He said that at the end of the African Cup of Nations. The video is taken out of context." Concerning the expulsion of the imam, the 25-year-old Moroccan &quot ;didn't think it would go this fast". "I put myself in his family's place, it must be an ordeal." Another group of older devotees did not wish "to make any relevant comment" on the imam and prefers "to believe in justice".

(*) borrowed first names I subscribe to read more