Infiltrated into France's mosques: corporal punishment, subjugated woman, hatred and radicalism.
A journalist exposes the radical Islam of the imams of 70 moderate mosques in France. He has it all on tape.
Google Maps
[social-share align=»right» style=»button» mobile_app=»desktop»]
[social-share align=»center» style=»icon» mobile_app=»mobile»]
A journalist under a pseudonym Étienne Delarcher He posed as a convert to Islam to find out what is taught in French mosques. He visited 70 religious centres. and recorded conversations with Hidden camera with imams and worshippers.
The results of his research are collected in his book Au Cœur de l'Islam de France (At the Heart of Islam in France). He addresses topics such as corporal punishment, the treatment of women, homosexuality, apostasy, child marriage, the prohibition on shaking hands with or kissing women, and even Islam and politics.
A radical Islam, but discreet
Delarcher discovered that a rigorist interpretation of the Qur'an and the application of Sharia law are being promoted even in the most moderate mosques. The journalist compiled hours of recordings showing religious figures inciting offences or crimes in the name of faith.
This reveals a hidden side of Islam in France, far removed from its public moderate discourse. The most radical messages are not delivered in the Friday sermon but through personal dealings with the imams when seeking advice. “The public discourse is much more controlled, because there is always the threat of expulsion,” the journalist observes in the book.
This situation questions the compatibility of these ideas with Western values. The journalist who infiltrated mosques in France claims that even imams considered moderate aspire to a government that implements Sharia law.
Imams defend corporal punishment
Delarcher asked 15 imams whether they approved of amputating thieves' hands. Fourteen replied in the affirmative, showing support for these punishments under Islamic law.
At the Pantin mosque, an imam claimed that cutting off thieves' hands remains valid today. The imam also explained that The practice of cutting off thieves' hands in public deters others., provided it is confirmed that the thief was not acting out of extreme necessity. According to him, prison is a «human rule» that does not prevent reoffending.
Female submission and justified violence
A young religious man from the Chaville mosque claimed that A woman cannot refuse to have sexual relations with her husband.. Some imams justified «small beatings» of the wife to «educate her» and «put her in her place.».
In Villeurbanne, they told him that A woman needs her husband's permission to leave the house., even to go and see his parents. The religious leader of this mosque also stated that, in the West, a man can decide to allow that his wife should only work if he is unable to support the family on his own..
As far as inheritance is concerned, some mosques teach that Women cannot manage large sums of money. because they are «unstable» and «influencable».
Response of the Muslim community
In an article published on musulmansenfrance.org, the community of the Othmane mosque in Villeurbanne questions the journalist's investigation. It emphasises that a genuine journalist should not conceal their identity to avoid reprisals.
It also mentions that the journalistic code of ethics prohibits the use of unfair methods, such as false identity or clandestine recording.
Furthermore, the article casts doubt on the veracity of the alleged dangerous sermons attributed to the imams, especially with regard to the justification of violence against women. It highlights that many imams, such as Azzedine Gaci of the Othmane Mosque in Villeurbanne, are known for their scholarship and respect for human rights. The fact that their sermons are broadcast live on YouTube makes any infiltration unnecessary to ascertain their content.
Dismissal of imams
In early October 2024, the Arrahma Mosque in Hautepierre (Strasbourg) dismissed its imam for gross misconduct after he justified sexual and domestic violence.
The situation was triggered by Étienne Delarcher's posting of a video on social media just before publishing the book.
In the video, the imam privately stated that When a woman says no to her husband, Allah is angry with her.. These comments were considered to legitimise sexual and domestic violence.
This incident highlights the problem of sexist and sexual violence in certain religious contexts and how messages are often conveyed in private.
The journalist has the evidence.
The journalist has the evidence. He saved dozens of hours of recordings containing statements by religious figures urging people to commit crimes or offences. In the name of respect for the word of the prophet.
Etienne Delarcher has published some videos in response to the criticism and disqualifications he has received from the Muslim community and its defenders.
One of the videos published in response to the criticisms.
Etienne Delarcher was surprised by the contrast between the often affable and smiling welcome of his interlocutors and the content of their statements. «It's never a hate speech, except perhaps against homosexuality.».
Etienne Larcher's very «frontal» investigation, built around «uncomfortable questions», does not probe the faithful. According to the Islamic scholar Faker Korchane, the practice of «ordinary Muslims» is very far removed from these obscurantist precepts, and the fear of deportation means that these ideas remain in the short term.
More Perceptions of
.