Gonesse Mosque Retains Imam Accused of Radicalism Amid Community Support

"After consultation with the faithful, we have decided to keep him in his duties until further notice because it is not a question of giving in to external pressures. Today, nothing links him to the investigation, there is no evidence against him."

These are the words chosen by Mohamed Touahria, member and former President of the Muslim Association of Gonesse, to testify to the support for Ahmed Hilali.

Indeed, Ahmed Hilali, the former reference imam of the Gonesse mosque, was frequented by Mickaël Harpon. This administrative agent, the author of the massacre that took place at the Paris Police Headquarters (PP) on October 3, regularly went to the Gonesse mosque.

Despite himself, the 35-year-old imam has become the target of opposition MPs in recent days, after a publication in the magazine Le Point, reports Le Parisien. And yet, indicates the same source, at this stage of the investigation, Hilali is in no way targeted.

According to Mohamed Touahria, "at no time have radical or extremist sermons been observed" with the imam in question, even if he "is nevertheless the subject of an ’S’ file, which is intended to be a simple police intelligence tool and not proof of any danger."

The former President of the Muslim Association of Gonesse thus refutes the statements of the town hall which, in a press release, mentioned the same day the idea of a mutual termination between the imam and the Association.

In addition to the Association, Ahmed Hilali will also receive the support of Jean-Pierre Blazy, Deputy-Mayor (PS).

He stated: "I recall that neither the leaders of the Muslim association of Gonesse in whom I have full confidence regarding their practice and promotion of a tolerant Islam compatible with the values of the Republic, nor the faithful nor the State services have confirmed that radical sermons would have been delivered within the prayer hall of Gonesse".