Gérald Darmanin is “in his most pathetic role”, says the imam of the mosque threatened with closure in Marseille

The resigning Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin is “in his most pathetic role” And “meets a timetable in view of the presidential election to seduce the far-right electorate”reacts on France Bleu Provence Thursday August 22 Smaïn Bendjilali, the imam of the Bleuets mosque in Marseille. The police prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône informed him on Tuesday of his intention to close it. “At the request of Mr. Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, the police prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône has launched a procedure to close the Bleuets mosque”the police prefecture said in a press release.

Accused by the police prefecture of holding “words legitimizing violence”Imam Smaïn Bendjilali denounces a political maneuver. “An imam has the right to have a political conscience”he justifies by calling for “to take action against state Islamophobia which seeks to trample on the rights of Muslims, who are free to practice their religion within the framework of the rules of the Republic”. Asked about certain sermons, he replied that he did not “cannot be justified in 5 minutes” of remarks made during lessons in which he “addresses the faithful for 1 hour to 1 hour 30”.

Smaïn Bendjilali indicates that he will “file a complaint and appeal to prevent the closure of the mosque” des Bleuets, located in the 13th arrondissement of Marseille. “The Minister of the Interior made a mistake and we will not let that happen”he concludes. He has until August 30 to respond to the police prefecture’s notification and try to avoid a closure.