A Mosque Closed by Order of France’s Interior Minister
France’s Interior Minister ordered the closure of a mosque in the suburbs of Paris. The government, by targeting extremist individuals and groups, demonstrates its desire for decisive action against extremist Islam.
Widespread protests following the killing of a teacher in France have given new dimensions to the struggle against Islamic fundamentalism in the country. Gérald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, ordered the closure of a mosque in the Paris suburbs.
The Interior Minister told France’s first television channel FT1 on Monday evening (October 19) that the mosque in question, located in the Pantin district in the Paris suburbs, had condemned the teaching methods of the slain teacher by publishing a video on Facebook on Friday.
According to the Interior Minister, the “imam” of the mosque had published the school’s address and threatened the history teacher.
On Monday, 34 police operations were also carried out against individuals and groups close to extremist Islamists.
The Interior Minister emphasized: “Islamists were not necessarily linked to the killing of the history teacher. He said the aim is to “send a clear message: we will not give enemies of the republic even a minute of opportunity.””
Samuel Paty was a 47-year-old teacher who was killed on Friday (October 16) near the school where he taught by an 18-year-old young man. The history teacher had shown students caricatures of the Prophet of Islam in class while explaining the concept of freedom of expression. Subsequently, the father of one of the student girls incited fanatical Muslims against him on social media.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, immediately condemned it as a terrorist act following the killing.
The attacker, an 18-year-old Chechen youth who had moved to France 12 years ago, was killed by police gunfire.
Online, a group called BarakaCity (City of Blessing) attacked France’s Interior Minister, claiming that the Macron government intends to exploit a “tragedy.” The group in question, which engages in “humanitarian services,” is under police surveillance due to extremist leanings.
Source: DW
