Thousands Mourn Belgian-Moroccan Preacher Rachid Haddach at Molenbeek Funeral

The Khalil mosque, located on Rue de l’Indépendance in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, was packed, on Monday. Many believers came to participate in the funeral prayer organized for the Belgian-Moroccan preacher, Rachid Haddach, reports Belga.

Some had to remain outside where the police closed traffic on Rue de l’Indépendance on the arrival and departure of the faithful. After the prayer, the destination was the multi-denominational cemetery of Evere, where the body of the imam, who died after a long illness, now rests.

Born in Brussels, Rachid Haddach is originally from Morocco. The deceased was one of the most followed French-speaking imams on the internet. With a language close to young people and a traditionalist discourse, he built up a solid reputation. He had officiated for several Brussels schools.

Labeled as a Salafist and radical, he had always firmly rejected these accusations. Moreover, he had filed a complaint against the extremist movement, Sharia4Belgium, for death threats.