Overview
- The prefecture opened a contradictory procedure on September 15 that could allow a two‑month administrative closure starting September 28 under the 1905 law.
- The mosque’s lawyers say they will file an urgent référé‑liberté within 48 hours if a closure order is issued and report that preparations are underway.
- The prefecture’s letter claims the imam remains tied to radical theories and notes posts deemed to call for hatred, violence or discrimination still being online, including a May Facebook reference to a contested book.
- Imam Smaïn Bendjilali was convicted in May for apologie du terrorisme to a six‑month suspended sentence, has appealed, and resumed his duties after completing a laïcité course.
- Local supporters and left‑wing elected officials backed the mosque at a press conference, while the prefecture confirmed the procedure but has not publicly detailed its full evidence.