Released at first instance by the criminal court, Imam Tatai, who officiates in the largest mosque in Toulouseis heard by the Court of Appeal on Monday for “provocation to hatred or violence because of origin or belonging to a specific ethnic group, race or religion. ”
In a sermon delivered on Friday December 15, 2017 at the mosque of Empalot, he declares in Arabic, according to the text translated into English: “The Prophet told us about the final and decisive battle: the final judgment will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews.”
Imam Tatai: “I am a pacifist”
Long questioned by the lawyers of the civil parties, Imam Tatai justified himself “Words that do not target a group of people. I am a pacifist. I have better than a video that shows me saying this: all the generations that I have educated. No one went to fight in Syria or in Iraq. Misinterpretations led me here”he assures.
Imam Chalghoumi, present at the hearing
A highlight of this appeal trial, the presence of Hassen Chalghoumi, the Imam of Drancy, one of the figures of Islam in France. A cleric who is the subject of strong criticism and death threats because he advocates a Moderate Islam and reject religious fundamentalism. Protected by the Ministry of the Interior, his family lives abroad. Imam Chalghoumi who justifies his presence by the amazement felt on hearing the sermon of the Toulouse imam. “In 2017, I heard this controversy. As soon as I got the video, it was incredible. What was said? I showed it to 80 imams, everyone condemned it. Merah, the Kouachi brothers… All those killers. Where is that from ? That’s how you prepare people who have so much hatred. This victimhood discourse divides and kills.”
– Julien Balidas