Oise's prefect claimed that the imam’s sermons there called jihadist fighters heroes and incited “hatred” and “violence”.

The mosque will remain shut for six months, according to local authorities.

In November 2015 in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, French authorities for the first time closed three mosques on the pretext of extremist activities and radicalization. The mosques were located in Lagny-sur-Marne, Lyon and Gennevilliers.

In October 2020, President Emmanuel Macron announced a crackdown on Muslim communities in France, saying a bill with this objective would be sent to parliament in early 2021. Among the restrictions, would be a ban on foreign imams and home schooling.

According to the latest Special Eurobarometer 493 (2019), the Muslim population in France is estimated to be 5% or 3.35 million.

Pew Research Center predicts the Muslim population would rise to 8.6 million or 12.7 percent of the country in 2050. (ILKHA)