Spanish Court Reviews Expulsion of Moroccan Imam Accused of Salafism

Yahyia Benaouda was represented by his lawyer, Aziza Magni at this hearing held in Madrid. It was also she who appealed the expulsion decision to the Ministry of the Interior which took it, and to the National Court. The Ministry of the Interior rejected the lawyer’s appeal and she is still awaiting the court’s decision, reports Sport.es.

Accused of Salafism, the Moroccan imam claims his innocence. His lawyer will ask for a summary judgment so that he can quickly know his fate. Benaouda will follow the trial from Oujda, Morocco, where he lives with his father since his expulsion from Spain. "I trust justice," he says, however, specifying that if his expulsion is confirmed by this court, he will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The imam says he has enough evidence to prove his innocence. He has already started the formalities to obtain a passport for his five children, four of whom have Spanish nationality, to come and spend the end-of-year holidays with him in Morocco, in case his return to Spain is delayed. "I spend all day thinking about them and my wife. She can’t handle everything," he said.