Conflans attack: the boss of the Pantin mosque files an appeal against its closure

M’hammed Henniche, head of the Pantin mosque that the Interior Ministry decided to close following the terrorist attack in Conflans-Saint-Honorine, files an appeal against this decision. It is the lawyer William Bourdon, already in charge of the interests of the NGO Baraka-City, threatened with dissolution by the government, who defends the association managing this place of worship.

Contacted this Wednesday evening, M’hammed Henniche does not elaborate on the reasons for the appeal. He had until this Wednesday evening, 9 p.m., to drop him off.

In the decree notifying the decision to close this mosque opened in 2009 and welcoming 1,500 to 2,000 worshipers every Friday, the Interior Ministry aims at several things.

Video calling for mobilization against Samuel Paty

First, the publication of a video of a father of a student calling for mobilization against Samuel Paty, the professor from Conflans beheaded by a terrorist on October 16. This had been withdrawn by Henniche, who had assured “regret” its posting.

Other reasons: the presence, within the mosque, of an imam known as “radical” and who notably made his classes alongside the sulphurous Nader Abou-Anas. Henniche assures us that he “has changed” and no longer has “any radical or even just tendentious discourse”.

The manager of the Pantin mosque is also accused of having published anti-public school comments on his social networks, especially during the controversy over alleged masturbation lessons taught in class. However, according to him, these publications had been operated by… the other co-president of the Union of Muslim associations of 93, Hassen Farsadou. And not on his Facebook account, nor that of the Pantin mosque.