Days after Paris attacks, France mulling shutting 100-160 mosques

Paris: In the aftermath of attacks in Paris last month, France is set to close as many as 160 mosques in the coming months.

Talking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Hassan El Alaoui, who is in charge of nominating imams for official positions, noted that the recent closure of three mosques in France was a precedent that was likely to turn into a trend.

The chaplain for Muslims in French prisons said: “According to official figures and our discussions with the Interior Ministry, between 100 and 160 more mosques will be closed because they are run illegally without proper licenses, they preach hatred, or use takfiri speech.”

“This kind of speech shouldn't even be allowed in Islamic countries, let alone secure countries like France.”

Police have shut down three `radical` mosques since France declared a state of emergency after last month`s Paris attacks.

The closures are part of a huge security crackdown after 130 people were killed in the jihadist attacks on Paris on November 13.

Since May 2012, France has expelled 65 imams and preachers, 34 of them this year.

Meanwhile, a pig`s head was discovered on Tuesday in front of a Muslim prayer room at Ecquevilly in the Yvelines west of Paris.

Police said worshippers found it sitting in a flower pot when they arrived for prayer.

The trio of mosque closures has met with mixed reactions from French Muslims, with some religious leaders complaining that Europe`s largest Islamic community is already short of worship space and that police raids should target hate preachers individually rather than prayer halls.

(With Agency inputs)