MARSEILLE: France on Friday deported an influential Islamic preacher whose mosque in the southern city of Marseille was shut down last year over accusations of hate speech.

The expulsion of Algeria-born El Hadi Doudi back to his home country came after his appeal with the European Court of Human Rights was rejected earlier this week.

Doudi, 63, had long been on the radar of Marseille police, who considered him an “authority” on Salafist interpretations of Islam, a Sunni branch which demands a strict conservative lifestyle.

While a majority of Salafists disdain violence, some followers embrace the use of force to promote their beliefs.

France has been wrestling with how to counter the influence of extremists after a string of deadly jihadist attacks by people later found to have moved in Salafist circles.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2018