Controversial Imam Hassan Iquioussen Arrives in Morocco After Expulsion from Belgium

Expelled on Friday, January 13 to Morocco by Belgium, the imam Hassan Iquioussen was welcomed by his family in Casablanca, who reside in a working-class neighborhood of the metropolis, reports Barlamane.com. His expulsion to the kingdom thus puts an end to a judicial saga that has lasted several months.

Upon his arrival at Casablanca airport, the former imam of Lourches, in northern France, was filmed by a member of his family. In this video, we see a seemingly calm and relaxed Hassan Iquioussen. He says he was greeted by Moroccan police before they let him go without any charges being brought against him.

To recall, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had ordered the expulsion of Hassan Iquioussen from French territory, accusing him of holding "for years a hateful discourse against the values of France," to Morocco. A measure that had been suspended by the Paris administrative court on August 5 on the grounds that it would constitute a "disproportionate interference" with his "private and family life". The case will be brought before the Council of State. The latter examined the appeal and endorsed the expulsion of the Moroccan imam.

Since then, Hassan Iquioussen, who is registered in the FPR, the file of wanted persons, was untraceable. He is said to have taken refuge in Belgium. Information that will later be confirmed. A investigating judge in Valenciennes (Nord) will issue an arrest warrant against the Moroccan preacher for "evading the execution of an expulsion decision". Arrested on September 30 in Mons, Belgium, Hassan Iquioussen was released and then placed under electronic surveillance. The Belgian justice refused the extradition request made by France, which prompted the prosecution to appeal.

To read:

In the wake of this, the imam of Lourches lost his right of residence in France and had to return to his country of origin, Morocco. In the absence of a response from Paris to the request for care from the Belgian authorities, Hassan Iquioussen, placed in a detention center with a view to his removal from Belgian territory, was returned to Morocco.