French Authorities Shut Down Suspected Islamist Language School Near Paris

According to Europe 1, the institute, which is allegedly a Quranic school, has just closed its doors by order of the prefect of Hauts-de-Seine. The establishment was already under scrutiny by authorities who suspected it of questionable religious practices. No less than 16 irregularities, such as the dilapidated state of the building, blocked emergency exits, insufficient fire extinguishers, and staff not trained in safety standards, were noted during a recent inspection.

Faced with these findings, the prefecture decided to close the Lissen Institute, deeming that the current state of the establishment does not guarantee the safety of visitors, particularly minors. According to the prefecture, an additional reason motivated the closure of the institute: "Islamist drift". During recent inspections, symbols linked to radical Islam, including drawings of figures without eyes or mouths (referring to a Salafist or Wahhabist interpretation of Islam), and prayer mats were seen in the school.

The Lissen Institute has a two-month period to file an appeal.