Belgian Lawmaker Challenges Imam’s Expulsion, Citing Rule of Law Concerns

Invited on the show "+d’Actu" on BX1, Nabil Boukili denounced the procedure that led to the withdrawal, last October, of Mohamed Toujgani’s residence permit, imam of the Al Khalil grand mosque in Molenbeek, as well as his expulsion. "What I find questionable in this story is the procedure that led to the withdrawal of Mr. Toujgani’s permit," supported the deputy in the federal parliament, considering the decision "arbitrary".

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"As a democrat, I live in a state of law and I want the rule of law to be respected... There is a justice that can rule on these issues. Today, in this situation, justice cannot rule. It is an arbitrary decision of the Secretary of State," explained Nabil Boukili, deploring the lack of "contradictory" in the procedure. "The accused did not have the opportunity to defend himself. [...] Today, we do not know if this residence ban is valid, because we do not have the elements," he specifies.

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Without bias, the deputy calls for respect for the rule of law. "If there are insulting remarks, which are reprehensible, they must be sanctioned, but for that, there are legal procedures in a state of law, and these procedures must be respected; that means that there is a judge who conducts an investigation, an investigation and makes a decision in the end," said deputy Nabil Boukili, who asks the state to provide more resources to the justice system for more efficiency.