Belgium Expels Top Imam Over National Security Concerns, Sparking Appeal

"The security services believe that this man must be considered a current, real and serious threat to national security. We are talking here about extremism and interference," insisted Sammy Mahdi, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, who withdrew Mohamed Toujgani’s residence permit. The main imam of the Al Khalil mosque is accused of remarks made in a video dating back to 2009 but published in 2019, in which he called for the burning of "oppressive Zionists". In a statement, the religious leader refutes these accusations which have "no basis".

"I recall that I have been living in Belgium for 40 years, during all these years, the whole of my work has been to support living together and interfaith dialogue. Whenever tensions arose within Brussels or Belgian society, we were at the forefront to alert parents and calm the spirits of young people. [...] And this position that I defend is widely documented. During the Brussels attacks, we were struck at the heart and once again, we were present. I had even given a sermon against terrorism on that occasion. Belgium is part of my identity, it is my country, I have lived there more than Morocco, my second country," he declared.

Following the announcement of Mohamed Toujgani’s expulsion from Belgium, an online petition has been launched not only to support the Moroccan imam, but also to demand answers from the Secretary of State. "I have traveled to many mosques. They heard my speeches, and that’s why today they support me even if I haven’t asked for anything, it’s on their own initiative and I thank them for it [...] But it is clear that they cannot remain silent in the face of such an injustice, because it is a blatant injustice. Let them ask all these people if I pose a threat to anyone or to national security [...] ", he continued, assuring that he has never been a threat to national security.

Mohamed Toujgani also states that he learned that he had been "struck off the municipality" when he asked for a "certificate of residence". Dissatisfied with the treatment he has received, he intends to appeal the Secretary of State’s decision, as this decision, he says, deprives him of his fundamental freedoms and rights. "This decision has caused me a lot of problems: it has separated and distanced me from my children and grandchildren, it has separated me from the people I frequent and with whom I exchange a lot, it has distanced me from the mosque."