Kashmir Digits

The Imam of a French mosque was dismissed for delivering a sermon on Eid-ul-Adha, which was said to be “contrary to the values of the Republic”.

Mmadi Ahamada, who is the imam of the Saint-Chamond Grand Mosque, located in France’s Loire region, was sacked on the directives of Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

Reason for dismissal:

The grounds cited for his dismissal were that the Quranic verse from Surah Ahzab and hadith Ahamada shared were “contrary to the values of the Republic”.

According to aTurkish publication, Ahamada shared verses addressing the wives of the Prophet Muhammad in his sermon.

A video of the sermon was shared online by Isabelle Surply, a member of the Municipal Council of the Republican Party, after which Darmanin asked the Loire Governor’s Office to “dismiss the imam and ensure that his residence permit is not renewed”, the report said.

Darmanin said that “he finds these statements unacceptable” and “sees them against gender equality”.

Ahamada contests claims:

Ahamada has contested that the verses have been misinterpreted.

Anadolu Agency quoted Ahamda as telling the Le Progres website “some of the statements and verses in the sermon were taken and used out of context”.

“Our girls do not have to stay at home, they become doctors, engineers or pilots,” the  added.

The mosque administration, meanwhile, announced that the imam has been dismissed, in a message on social media.

Another example of growing Islamophobia?

Lawyer Sefen Guez, a human rights advocate, has criticised the minister for “targeting imams” and asking the governor to dismiss them.

“The Saint-Chamond Mosque has confirmed what everyone knew: imams are appointed by governors in France,” he said on Twitter.

Media expert Sylvain Tirreau accused Darmanin of “hatred towards Islam”, Anadolu Agency reported.

A petition campaign has been launched in France to support Mmadi Ahamada.