Cannes Mosque Shut Down Over Alleged Anti-Semitism, Says French Interior Minister

"We are closing one of the mosques in Cannes, because we accuse it of anti-Semitic remarks, support for the CCIF [Collective Against Islamophobia in France] and BarakaCity," dissolved at the end of 2020, explained the Minister of the Interior on CNews. He assures that he "spoke" with the LR mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard before making this decision.

The mayor has announced that the mosque concerned is the city center place of worship, Al Madina Al Mounawara. In a press release, he explained that "this decision comes after a meticulous work of research by the state services and multiple reports made directly by the municipality of Cannes since 2015." "We know that the vast majority of Muslims who frequent this very old mosque do not share its drift; some had even alerted us," specifies David Lisnard.

The city of Cannes is targeting the mosque’s rector, Mustapha Dali. According to her, "it is up to him to bring out new leaders who respect the French Republic and the country so that the place of worship can then reopen." "While it is important that everyone can practice their religion with dignity, it is vital for French society that the animators of a place of worship are not propagandists hostile to the country and that they do not position themselves against the French Republic," added the municipality.