French Interior Minister Cazeneuve has issued an order authorizing the closure of four Muslim preaching schools in Paris.
News Desk
French authorities have closed four mosques in the Paris region for promoting the ideology of extremism under the state of emergency as France continues to tackle the issue of home-grown extremism following a number of high-profile extremist attacks.
The mosques were closed under the state of emergency for the spread of “hatred and violence,” the statement says, adding that “under the guise of ritual ceremonies, these places [harbored] meetings aimed at promoting extremism ideology, [which is] contrary to the values of the [French] Republic and may constitute a serious risk to security and public order.”
In the statement, Cazeneuve also reaffirmed his commitment to “allow the peaceful coexistence of all worship in compliance with the laws of the Republic” as well as his “determination” to protect French citizens and “fight extremism by all legal means.”
Many people who previously attended one of the two mosques that were closed in Seine-Saint-Denis then joined extremist movements, French media report, adding that some of them are suspected of “being behind attempted extremist attacks in France.”
In August, Cazeneuve said that French authorities had closed about 20 mosques and prayer halls considered to be preaching extremism since December 2015. “There is no place... in France for those who call for and incite hatred in prayer halls or in mosques,” he said at that time, adding that the closures would continue.
The minister also said that French authorities were working on a French foundation for Islam which would guarantee complete transparency in financing mosques “with rigorous respect for secular principles.”
In July, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said his government was considering a temporary ban on foreign financing of mosques following a series of extremist attacks claimed by ISIL, including November 2015 Paris attacks, the July Nice tragedy and the killing of a priest at French church.
There are some 2,500 mosques and prayer halls in France.
Source: RT
