Toulouse Imam Faces Retrial for Alleged Anti-Semitic Sermon, Prosecutor Seeks Suspended Sentence

Mohamed Tataiat, 59, was acquitted at first instance in September 2021, accused of a sermon given five years earlier in which he relayed in Arabic a hadith that would incite Muslims to kill Jews. However, he defended himself, arguing that his words were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

During the hearing, the religious leader had to face several associations including the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) Midi-Pyrénées and SOS Racisme. Hassen Chalghoumi, the head of the Drancy mosque, strongly criticized him, declaring before the court that he knew "Arabic very well. I listened to this sermon about thirty times. These words can lead to killings like that of Mohammed Merah."

For his part, the Attorney General, Franck Rastoul, felt that "freedom of expression cannot be the false nose of incitement to hatred, incitement to murder. Mr. Tataiat, that day you fired heavy artillery against an impressionable audience." The decision of the court of appeal was adjourned to August 31.