A controversial imam from Marseille, noted in a recent report about the Muslim Brotherhood , was sentenced on May 30 to six months in prison (suspended) for ” apology of terrorism “. This decision stemmed from a post he made on social media platform X concerning the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. The correctional court of Marseille also imposed a fine of €2,000 and a five-year ban on civil rights, along with his registration in the file of terrorist offense authors (Fijait).
The imam, known as Ismail (real name Smaïn Bendjilali ), was found guilty of republishing a video in July 2024 that claimed the attack on October 7, which resulted in more than 1,200 Israeli deaths , was *”legitimate defense.”* However, he was acquitted on another post where he shared a video accusing Israeli soldiers of torturing a Palestinian, stating, *”with Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State], they are just choir boys.”*
The correctional court followed the requisitions of the public prosecutor, except for a request for a six-month ban on using social media X and a permanent prohibition from working as an employee within the mosque of the Bleuets.
The Imam and His Mosque in the Report on the Muslim Brotherhood
After the judgment, the imam declared to the press that he planned to resume his religious activities “*”with pride*” during the upcoming Friday sermon. He insisted, *”Relaying is not adhering, and I did not agree with those statements.”* He accused that anytime someone defends Palestinians, they are labeled as anti-Semitic or a terrorist , stressing, *”This will not silence us.”*
His lawyer, Sefen Guez Guez , who has not ruled out an appeal, hailed a *”partial acquittal”* as a *”disavowal after the public prosecutor’s requisitions, which requested a permanent ban on exercising the function of imamate.”* He highlighted the *”connections between a desire from the Ministry of the Interior to close this mosque and the condemnation of Mr. Bendjilali.”*
Bendjilali and the mosque had been at the center of an administrative battle in late summer, as the police prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône threatened to close the mosque at the request of former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin , due to the imam’s statements and online posts. The procedure was eventually suspended after the latter temporarily stepped down to obtain a university diploma on secularism and deleted his tweets.
The imam Ismail and the mosque of the Bleuets are mentioned in the report on the Muslim Brotherhood commissioned by the government and released last week. The imam, who is a French national , is described as *”of a rather Salafist sensitivity but using the codes of Frérisme,”* and it is noted that *”he enjoys great popularity among young Muslims thanks to his mastery of social media.”* Furthermore, over the years, the mosque and its affiliated associations have become significantly influential in the neighborhood.
When interviewed by Agence France-Presse , the imam criticized the *”incompetence of the government, which does not know how to categorize us: Salafism, now Frérisme, when they are opposing trajectories.”* He ironically stated, *”I also learned that I was infiltrating through my social and charitable actions… now even when you want to do good, it is seen as infiltration.”* He added, *”They put targets on our backs,”* expressing concern that *”this report casts suspicion on Muslims,”* and that *”the current government is taking a trajectory that is truly worrying for the future.”*