Ali Ibrahim el-Soudany a “radical Islamist cleric”, preaching to “incite violence”, was expelled Thursday 7 January urgently to Egypt, said the Minister of Interior in a statement.
Mr. Hortefeux said that “the special services have identified this dangerous individual who since several months has made numerous sermons in mosques in the Seine-Saint-Denis area, calling for struggle against the West, despising the values of our society and inciting violence.” The Minister underlined that he has asked his services “to intensify vigilance,” and warned that he will not hesitate “to take the expulsion measures whenever necessary.”
If the Republic “respects religious freedom, the preachers of hate who have nothing to do with religious freedom, have no place on our territory,” added the Minister. “Since 2001, a total of 129 radical Islamists – including 29 imams or preachers – were expelled from the country” the statement said.
Al-Soudany, born in Egypt in 1973, officiated at several mosques in eastern Paris, but also at some other in the Capital, especially in the (northern) districts. According to sources familiar with the matter, his sermons were “in defense of jihad.” He was under particular scrutiny since 2008.
The ministerial decision of deportation “in absolute emergency” has been immediately executed, and the imam left the French territory on board a plane bound for Cairo, which took off late afternoon of Thursday 7th. According to an Islamic association, which does not wish to give its name, Mr. Soudany, was an illegal resident in France.
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Le Monde