Police in Belgium Arrest Moroccan Imam Hassan Iquioussen

Rabat – Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne announced today that security services in the European country arrested French-Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen.

AFP quoted the Belgian minister confirming the news. “I can confirm to you that he was arrested today by the police,” the official said.

Hassan Iquioussen has been facing a European arrest warrant issued by France in early September.

France issued an arrest warrant against the Moroccan imam after the French Council of State gave the green light for his deportation. The imam reportedly fled France to Belgium prior to the council’s order.

The French Interior Ministry issued an expulsion order against the imam in July after accusing him of “proselytizing speech interspersed with remarks inciting hatred and discrimination.”

Born in France, Iquioussen is the father of five French-born children. He is also the grandfather of 15 grandchildren.

Iquioussen’s case has created divided opinions in France.

While some people support his deportation, including France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, others believe that this act is against France’s principles of freedom of speech.

The League for Human Rights (LDH) said in August that “there is a clear principle in a secular and democratic society: the only limits to freedom of expression are the possibility for others to exercise the same freedom, and public order. This principle must be respected.”

It remains to be seen whether France will proceed with the imam’s deportation amid tense diplomatic ties with Morocco.

Previously, France thanked Morocco for accepting to receive Iquioussen after his expulsion. Morocco’s government, however, canceled a previously issued consular pass for imam Iquioussen’s deportation in September.

Moroccan news outlet Le360 quoted a diplomatic source, emphasizing that a letter from Morocco’s consular services was sent to French authorities to inform them that the previous consular pass for the imam’s expulsion to the North African country was “no longer valid.”