Brussels Imam Mosque Won't Be Expelled - Reports

Mohammad Ndiaye, Jamal Momenah and Abdelhadi Sewif ((from left to right) say their institution promotes cultural understanding.

Brussels, MINA – The Imam of the Islamic Centre mosque in Brussels Abdelhadi Sewif will not be expelled from Belgium, KUNA reported, citing Belgian media Tuesday.

The Council for Alien Law Litigation in Belgium has overturned an earlier decision taken by the Belgian Secretary of State responsible for asylum and migration, Theo Francken, to revoke the Egyptian Imam’s residency permit.

Francken had announced recently that he was to revoke Sewif’s residency, arguing that there are “very clear” signals that the imam is spreading radical views and poses a danger to national security.

Sewif had appealed against the decision and according to his lawyer Hisham Chibane the appeal has been successful.

“This decision puts right the image that had been created on my client with regard to his position and his openness towards others. We had submitted all kinds of documents about what he has preached and other public statements,” Chibane said in press statements.

“They all point in same direction. This ruling is important because the Secretary of State had portrayed my client as being a radical that spreads radicalism,” said the lawyer. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)