The imam of the At-Tawba du Mont-Cotton mosque in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Mahjoub Mahjoubi, found himself this Monday, February 19, the target of a preliminary investigation for advocating terrorism. This Tunisian, father of a family of five children, described “the tricolor flag” as “satanic” during one of his sermons. The scene was filmed and widely distributed on social networks.
You are the imam of the At-Tawba Mosque in Bagnols-sur-Cèze and today you find yourself the subject of a preliminary investigation for advocating terrorism following comments in which you qualify “the tricolor flag as satanic”.
It’s a clumsy language. A wording problem. This is a statement that went beyond my thoughts. I was talking about a completely different situation which had nothing to do with France or the tricolor flag. In any case, this event gives those who are angry with me the pretext to attack me.
How do you plan to defend yourself?
I invite anyone to read my speeches which are all broadcast on social networks. Videos too. In all my interventions, I film myself. I would be crazy and unconscious to come and insult the French flag and cause such a buzz. This corresponds neither to my education nor to the principles we defend.
You said those words, right?
I was talking about a man who, according to our Muslim texts, will arrive at the end of time and who will unite believers with a single word. At the time I was giving this speech we were at the end of the African Football Cup of Nations. In my remarks, I spoke to the Algerian and Moroccan communities, well represented at the Can, with people waving tricolor flags. It divides us. So I said that these flags are damaging us when we need to make peace. I should have talked about flags of different colors, this controversy would not have happened.
Do you regret?
By using the adjective tricolor, I was able to make people believe that I was insulting the French flag. I understand that it could have been shocking. It’s a slip of the tongue. I didn’t graduate from ENA or the Sorbonne. Believe me, there was never any question in my remarks, neither remotely nor directly, of saying that the French flag is satanic. I was talking about the Muslim world and football.
What are you planning to do ?
Once this story is over, I will sue Jean Messiha. He called me an enemy of France. I will do things on time. For the moment, the priority is to ensure my defense in order to stay in France with my family. I’m not a thug. It’s a situation that can shatter a man’s life and destroy a household.
How do you experience the prospect of expulsion from France?
The intelligence services have examined my life. They have it from A to Z. If they deport me, it will hurt my heart because I will be treated unfairly. I defended the values of France. I expressed my total disagreement with the radicals, the fundamentalists, Daesh and I condemned the assassination of Samuel Paty as well as the events at Charly Hebdo. I campaigned within the Living Together committee.
What do you say to people who ask who Mahjoub Mahjoubi is?
I tell them that I am a member of interreligious dialogue. I was the first vice-president of the Departmental Council of Muslim Faith. Abdallah Zekri, who is supposed to defend Muslims because he represents the national observatory for the fight against Islamophobia, has apparently dissociated himself from me.
Preliminary investigation
This Monday, February 19, 2024, a preliminary investigation was opened for advocating terrorism against the imam of Bagnols-sur-Cèze. In a video widely shared on social networks, Mahjoub Mahjoubi notably described the French flag as a “satanic flag” which has “no value with Allah”. The day before, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had requested the withdrawal of the Tunisian’s residence permit. The imam had been the subject of a first report well before this affair, for financial offenses linked to the management of the mosque.