Belgian Police Arrest Controversial French Imam Wanted for Deportation

The imam from Lourches, in northern France, is accused of making remarks deemed "contrary to the values of the Republic". Untraceable since the end of last August following an expulsion decision issued by the French authorities, he is the subject of a European arrest warrant for evading the execution of a removal decision.

Born in France and 58 years old, he was on the S list of the French intelligence service (DGSI) since last year. He is accused, among other things, of "anti-Semitic remarks for several years" and a "discourse on the inferiority of women and their submission to men" in his sermons and conferences or on his YouTube channel followed by nearly 180,000 people.

After his arrest, the imam risks 3 years in prison, but several weeks or even months could elapse before his handover to France, as Hassan Iquioussen has the possibility to contest this decision before the Belgian justice system.