PARIS, Sept 19: In an interview in Thursday’s issue of the French daily Le Figaro, Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy has told French Muslims that he will be tougher than ever with regard to Islamic fundamentalism.

He said: “The mosques where fundamentalism is preached will be shut down, Imams who propound a radical form of Islam will be expelled, and visiting speakers who do not pledge to respect our republican values will be systematically refused an entry visa into France.”

Mr Sarkozy as interior minister is also in charge of the country’s various religions, was the principal architect of the Conseil Francais du Culte Musulman (CFCM), the single representational organism for the country’s five million Muslims which was officially created in early May.