"It is the Islamists who kill, not those who denounce them!"
There are five, 73 activists of the movement "identity generation" had occupied the roof of the mosque in Poitiers - then under construction - to denounce "the Islamization of the country." Five of them were in court Friday: one year suspended sentence was required against them.
- Damien Rieu, you decided to denounce Islamism ascended the roof of a mosque. Do you regret the way you have done that day?
This October 20, 2012, we called for a referendum on the construction of mosques and immigration in France. We did, in fact, occupying peacefully site of the roof of a mosque led by an Islamist. This is a somewhat cavalier approach, but it was necessary to publicize our message. When we see what is happening today, 250 died of Islamist terrorism and migration submersion, our only regret may be that of having ... was right too early and not being sufficiently heard.
- What was the atmosphere in this trial?
The trial began with our statements. We made explosive revelations about the imam of the mosque who leads an institute promoting the cheick Youssef Al-Qaradawi, a dangerous Islamist preacher wanted by INTERPOL and now banned from the USA, UK and France. In concrete terms, this man lawful suicide bombings, the killing of Jews and homosexuals, violence against women and helped finance al-Qaida. Today, when you go on the website of the institute led by the imam of the Grand Mosque of Poitiers (Iesh.org), we find his name inscribed in reference in the "Tips and fatwas" ... the imam had to justify before the Court, but his defense was dire. We then moved to the question of the day, and most important of this trial: can we still denounce Islamism in France?
- And what was the tenor of this debate?
After unveiling the true face of Poitiers imam, so we had an interesting debate on the right to freedom of expression, noting for example that values Current was fully acquitted in 2013 for A much harder than slogans alleged against us. Our lawyers have ridiculed then one by one the grotesque charges of damage. In the end, there was nothing left ... If it can be felt that this Friday, it was the Imam, the UOIF and IESH that should have been on the dock.
- This trial was it finally a way for you to advocate?
The CCIF and the UOIF, civil parties, wanted to use the courts to prohibit criticism of Islam by holding including the charge of Islamophobia. There is no reason to let it go, especially when we know their true nature. So yes we took the opportunity to make the moves one by one. These are the Islamists held in France, certainly not those who expose and including us into this court.
- One year suspended sentence, you expect a less severe that the Crown Court?
If the court decides to convict us, it will provide a symbolic victory for those who want to impose shari'a in our country. It will also send a terrible signal to all the victims of Islamist terrorism and all those who risk their lives to denounce this threat to our country. I dare not imagine, especially as the folder is empty.
