France shuts mosque over Quran verses and Islamic texts used in Muslim worship
France shuts mosque over Quran verses and Islamic texts used in Muslim worship Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Sat, 08/08/2026 - 17:53 A lawyer for the mosque says the six-month closure strikes at religious freedom and secularism in France A French mounted police officer stand guard outside the Grande Mosquee or the Great Mosque during the Eid Al-Adha morning prayers, in Paris on June 28, 2023.…
The French government has extended the six-month closure of a mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois, following a court ruling that has sparked concerns over religious freedom and secularism in the country. The Montreuil Administrative Court rejected an appeal by human rights lawyer Rafik Chekkat, who represented the Chanteloup mosque in the case.
Chekkat questioned whether imams in France are still permitted to recite the Quran in their places of worship, citing the authorities' reference to passages from the holy text and works by 13th-century scholar Imam al-Nawawi. The authorities argued that the imams' sermons evoked "hell" and "punishments of the grave" for "unbelievers," despite similar teachings being present in religious services at other institutions.
Eight out of ten Muslims in France report experiencing widespread hate, according to a recent survey. The authorities argued that the mosque's practices were not in line with French secularism and religious freedom, but Chekkat and his team plan to file an appeal before the Council of State to defend these principles.
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