Apparently the Saudis’ problem with “extremist” imams is not just within the kingdom, but extends to mosques they finance abroad.
Imagine the embarrassment of Belgian officials when they discover that what Abdelhadi Sewif was teaching was very similar to what many, many other imams in Belgium are teaching. But by then it is likely to be far too late.
“Belgium moves to expel mosque imam over security fears,” AFP, October 3, 2017:
Brussels (AFP) – Belgium has moved to expel an Egyptian preacher at the country’s biggest mosque because he posed a “national security” threat, officials said on Tuesday.
Immigration Minister Theo Francken revoked the residency permit of the imam of the Saudi-financed Grand Mosque, near the EU headquarters in Brussels.
Belgium has been hit by several attacks since 2016, including suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 32 people at Brussels airport and a metro station.
“Everybody knows there is a problem with the Grand Mosque in Brussels. I decided to withdraw the residency permit of the imam of this mosque,” Francken told Bel-RTL.
“We have had very clear signals he is a man who is very radicalised, salafist, very conservative and dangerous for our society and national security,” Francken added.
Francken did not identify the imam but his office told AFP his name is Abdelhadi Sewif, a man of Egyptian origin who has lived in Belgium for 13 years….
Pet Charles says
Now they have to start revoking citizenship! Change citizenship laws so that unless you are third generation born you will still be associated with your ancestral home when and if citizenship is revoked. In Japan and some other places children of foreign born must be registered with their embassy
johan elzinga says
Revoked citizenship. That’s the best they can do. So he can still move around freely in the EU. Apparently, this is what to expel means these days. Cowards!
mortimer says
Europeans have to wake up to the threat if they are to change it. They STILL refuse to be awakened, even after many serious jihad attacks. How big does the wakeup call need to be?
Mockingjay says
They are not sleeping, it’s more like a trance, I would say.
– They’ve woken up, in a sense, with all the jihad attacks that happened – which all the national media outlets in Europe have assured them would and could never happen, and that anyone claiming otherwise was just a hate-mongering racist – but even though they “sort of” understand now that reality isn’t as it was told to them, instead of becoming fully aware of how immense the discrepancy – and the danger – really is, they choose to carry on exactly as before, elect the same sort of people into their governments, and never form any real critical thought – they are in a trance-like state.
What it will take to free them from it – I hardly dare think about. – But a simple wake-up call sure isn’t gonna do it.
pemba says
Step in right direction,
Bryce says
Gotta love those quotes from the Belgian Immigration Minister : “Everybody knows there is a problem with the Grand Mosque in Brussels.” and “We have had very clear signals he is a man who is very radicalised, salafist, very conservative and dangerous for our society and national security,”
Guy Forester says
What do they mean, “moved?” If the guy is not a citizen, the immigration authorities need to simply cancel his permit and pay him a visit at 2:00 AM. Put him in detention in shackles. Put him on the next flight out to Egypt with the clothes on his back. Search the mosque. If any explosives, weapons, or training material is found there, close it and declare it an unregistered agency of a foreign government and a terrorist training facility. Turn it into a charcuterie or public latrine when done. If this was in Amsterdam, divide into small rooms and put a red light on top of the dome and minaret.
johan elzinga says
Exactly. But apparently we must first “move” politicians and put someone like you in charge. I’d support any of the above.
steve brown says
Like that will do a lick of good.
The Rationalvoice says
Japan,Poland and Hungary have common sense when it comes to immigration.
The UK,France,Germany,Sweden,Italy and some others are like people who have to put their hands in a fire so see if it really burns.Even then they don’t seem to get it !
The ordinary people ,not the Lefty/Liberal politicians or organizations like the CBI (Confederation of British Industry with their desire to keep wages down)pay the price for their mistakes as they did after the financial crash of 2008
mortimer says
Theo Francken has merely removed one jihadist, but there are THOUSANDS more remaining. Moreover, he has done nothing to remove the jihadist IDEOLOGY that is normative Islam, rather than an aberration.
Salafism is not a deviation from real Islam. Salafism is foundational Islam.
johan elzinga says
He has not even removed anyone.
underbed cat says
All mosques have imams who teach and recite the sura’s from the conservative flowery language of the Quran which is also the doctrine of sharia law. I guess that could be dangerous too, but it depends on who you ask….and who you are it is as they say classified.
Wellington says
Every imam is a follower of a most malevolent ideology. And thus any talk about “an extremist imam” is rather like talking about “an extremist KKK member” or “an extremist Nazi Party member.”
It is the ideology that matters and not the fact that many followers of an evil ideology are not “extreme.” And so again the CHIEF problem remains glaringly apparent, to wit, the unwillingness of Western elites to characterize Islam, all of it, as nefarious and monumentally injurious to such things as freedom, equality under the law, women’s rights and a true Golden Rule for all.
My God, how long is it going to take to realize what is so effing realizable, i.e., that Islam is rotten to the core and that any follower of it is, at the very least, a confused human being; at worst, completely complicit with wickedness of the first degree.
gravenimage says
Belgium moves to expel “extremist” imam of Saudi-funded Brussels Grand Mosque
……………………
Well, this is a good move. Unfortunately, many Imams are as “extremist” as Abdelhadi Sewif.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
It’s easier to keep them out than to kick them out, is the lesson learned.
nicholas tesdorf says
The situation in Belgium has become so bad that even those in charge of the Country are beginning to wake up to the Muslim threat. Perhaps there is still a thread of Hope for Sanity.