Belgian Court to Decide on Extradition of Controversial Moroccan Imam Wanted in France

Arrested in Belgium on September 30, the Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen, during his appearance before the judge, expressed his refusal to be extradited to France. The Belgian justice system must look into the European warrant this Tuesday.

Before his "disappearance" on August 31, the S-listed imam was under a deportation order signed by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, for remarks deemed "contrary to the values of the Republic." France hopes that Belgium will help it succeed in extraditing the preacher. The issue is now eminently political.

For his part, Hassan Iquioussen and his lawyer Me Lucie Simon are counting on the Belgian justice system to identify the flaws in the procedure initiated by France. "Hassan Iquioussen trusts the Belgian justice system not to succumb to the pressures of a French executive eager for a media trophy to serve a disastrous legislative agenda," writes the lawyer in a press release.

She argues that her client did not violate any law in leaving France for Belgium and believes that the arrest warrant has no validity. "Ultimately, Hassan Iquioussen has simply complied with French law by leaving the Hexagon for Wallonia."