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| France shuts mosque in Beauvais for sermons 'defending jihad' | France shuts mosque in Beauvais for sermons 'defending jihad' |
| (6 months later) | |
| The Great Mosque in Beauvais had been under investigation for alleged extremist preaching | The Great Mosque in Beauvais had been under investigation for alleged extremist preaching |
| A mosque in the northern French region of Oise has been closed because of an imam's radical sermons, said to have "defended jihad". | A mosque in the northern French region of Oise has been closed because of an imam's radical sermons, said to have "defended jihad". |
| The mosque in the town of Beauvais will remain shut for six months, local authorities say. | The mosque in the town of Beauvais will remain shut for six months, local authorities say. |
| Oise's prefect said sermons there called jihadist fighters "heroes" and incited hatred and violence. | Oise's prefect said sermons there called jihadist fighters "heroes" and incited hatred and violence. |
| France has been carrying out checks on Islamic places of worship suspected of having links to extremism. | France has been carrying out checks on Islamic places of worship suspected of having links to extremism. |
| Two weeks ago, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he was starting a process to close the Great Mosque of Beauvais, 100km (62 miles) north of Paris, because the imam was "targeting Christians, homosexuals and Jews" in his sermons. | Two weeks ago, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he was starting a process to close the Great Mosque of Beauvais, 100km (62 miles) north of Paris, because the imam was "targeting Christians, homosexuals and Jews" in his sermons. |
| Authorities gave the mosque 10 days to respond. | Authorities gave the mosque 10 days to respond. |
| The mosque's imam was a recent convert to Islam, Agence France-Presse quoted local newspaper Courrier Picard as saying. | The mosque's imam was a recent convert to Islam, Agence France-Presse quoted local newspaper Courrier Picard as saying. |
| A lawyer for the association managing the mosque told the newspaper his remarks had been "taken out of context". | A lawyer for the association managing the mosque told the newspaper his remarks had been "taken out of context". |
| The lawyer said that the imam, who was "speaking on a voluntary basis", had been suspended from his duties. | The lawyer said that the imam, who was "speaking on a voluntary basis", had been suspended from his duties. |
| But the interior ministry said the man, who was "presented as an occasional speaker but who, in reality, acts as a regular imam", had defended "a rigorous practice of Islam" and "its superiority to the laws of the Republic". | But the interior ministry said the man, who was "presented as an occasional speaker but who, in reality, acts as a regular imam", had defended "a rigorous practice of Islam" and "its superiority to the laws of the Republic". |
| Muslims under pressure to sign French values charter | Muslims under pressure to sign French values charter |
| Beheading of teacher deepens divisions in France | Beheading of teacher deepens divisions in France |
| Last year, Mr Darmanin announced a crackdown on mosques with extremist links, saying some could be closed if found to be encouraging "separatism". | Last year, Mr Darmanin announced a crackdown on mosques with extremist links, saying some could be closed if found to be encouraging "separatism". |
| It was a response to the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty and the fatal stabbing of three people in a cathedral in Nice in October 2020, blamed on Islamist extremists. | It was a response to the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty and the fatal stabbing of three people in a cathedral in Nice in October 2020, blamed on Islamist extremists. |
| France's interior ministry said it had investigated around 100 mosques and prayer halls over such extremism in recent months, out of a total of more than 2,620 in France. | France's interior ministry said it had investigated around 100 mosques and prayer halls over such extremism in recent months, out of a total of more than 2,620 in France. |
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| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| October 2020: French President Emmanuel Macron says France 'will never give in' | October 2020: French President Emmanuel Macron says France 'will never give in' |
| October 2020: French President Emmanuel Macron says France 'will never give in' | October 2020: French President Emmanuel Macron says France 'will never give in' |
| Related Topics | |
| France | |
| Jihadism | |
| Samuel Paty murder | |
| Islamist extremism | |
| Islam |