Villeneuve-d’Ascq Mosque Officials Under Investigation for Fraud, Association Pledges Cooperation

In a statement signed by its secretary general Mohammed El Mokhtari, the CIV, the association managing the mosque, says it is "deeply concerned by such a measure". It says it is taking this situation "very seriously", as it "can affect the reputation of our association and undermine all these years of work and investment". "We will fully cooperate with the judicial authorities. We are convinced that the whole truth will be revealed, the suspicions lifted and good faith confirmed," the association adds.

"Convinced that the presumption of innocence, a principle guaranteed by the Constitution, must be respected for all," and "determined to continue our missions with integrity and transparency," the CIV assures that it has "never tolerated any behavior contrary to these values." It reserves the right to take legal action to defend itself "against any false information or defamatory statements."

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Suspected of breach of trust, attempted fraud and mismanagement of accounts, four officials of the Villeneuve-d’Ascq mosque and a fifth man have been placed under judicial supervision since May 2, at the end of their police custody. Their legal troubles began after a report from the prefecture of the North to the prosecutor’s office in Lille in March 2022. The five accused would have set up an illegal financing network, in order to receive without having to justify funds from abroad and cash donations collected from the faithful of the mosque, reports Le Figaro.