Source: Morocco World News – Eye on Islamism

Prison authority rebuts Spanish media claims about ‘pardoned’ terrorist La Gaceta alleged that after his release, the individual traveled to Spain through illegal immigration routes and resumed jihadist activities.

August 21, 2025 Adil Faouzi

(Morocco World News) The General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) has firmly denied allegations published yesterday by the Spanish newspaper La Gaceta regarding a Moroccan national recently arrested in Spain. The DGAPR issued a statement on Thursday, rejecting claims that […]

Morocco, Spain strengthen security cooperation to curb irregular migration to Ceuta Each summer, dangerous irregular migration attempts to Ceuta sharply increase.

July 28, 2025 Asmae Daoudi

(Morocco World News) In response to a sharp spike in irregular migration attempts toward Ceuta, Moroccan and Spanish authorities have significantly ramped up their joint security operations in recent days, according to El Mundo. The Spanish outlet reports that Morocco has deployed […]

Spain confronts growing terror threat tied to Polisario Front Calls are growing in some quarters for Spain and its European partners to officially recognize the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization.

June 8, 2025 Firdaous Naim

(Morocco World News) Spanish intelligence services are raising alarms over a mounting terrorist threat linked to the Polisario Front, as extremist factions in the Sahel expand their operations and deepen ties to radicalized individuals with European connections. At the heart of the […]

Spain arrests two Tindouf-origin Sahrawis on terrorism charges The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the possible radicalization within the camps.

June 7, 2025 Asmae Daoudi

(Morocco World News) Spanish police in the Basque Country arrested two young Sahrawis originally from the Tindouf camps on Wednesday in the Álava region. The individuals are facing charges of “collaboration with jihadist organizations” and “glorification of terrorism,” according to converging reports. […]

Morocco aids Spain in arrest of suspected ISIS member This is not the first time Morocco has assisted Spain in thwarting potential terrorist threats.

May 17, 2025 Sara Zouiten

(Morocco World News) The Spanish Civil Guard announced on Friday evening that they had arrested an individual in Guadalajara, central Spain, suspected of being affiliated with ISIS. The arrest was made possible through a joint operation with Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial […]

Retailleau wants to ban hijab wearing at universities amid Macron’s claims on religious freedom The remarks came just a few days after Macron claimed his country is committed to guaranteeing religious freedom.

May 2, 2025 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) French President Emmanuel Macron claimed earlier this week that his country respects religious freedom and is committed to preserving the fundamental rights of its Muslim citizens and residents, yet the latest controversial statement by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirms […]

Marine Le Pen calls for ban on Muslim Brotherhood in France 'For me, the veil is not a sign of liberty but a symbol of submission and apartheid in our society,' the French interior minister said.

March 25, 2025 Firdaous Naim

(Morocco World News) Marine Le Pen has called on Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood in France, expressing urgency that her party has been saying this for years. The leader of the National Rally (RN) parliamentary group addressed the […]

France-Algeria tensions put Paris Grand Mosque’s ‘iftar for ambassadors’ in spotlight French officials and media have been concerned about ties between the mosque and Algeria amid a flaring crisis between the two countries.

March 17, 2025 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The upcoming high-level Ramadan iftar ceremony at the Grand Mosque of Paris is attracting a dramatic turn of events as the media is suspecting further tensions between Algeria and France. French news agency Agence France-Presse said the rift between […]

French commission approves expulsion of Algerian TikToker ‘Doualemn’ A March [6] hearing sentenced [Doualemn] to a five-month suspended prison term charging him with 'incitement to commit a crime or offense.'

March 12, 2025 Issam Toutate

(Morocco World News) The expulsion commission in Hérault, France, issued today a favorable opinion supporting authorities’ request to expel Algerian TikToker “Doualemn.” The three-magistrate commission endorsed the previous decision to deport the Algerian social media influencer, whose previous deportation attempt sparked diplomatic […]

Muslim private school challenges termination of its contract in French court The large amount of inspections that Al Kindi gets in comparison to Catholic schools, as well as the [school’s] claims that the court’s allegations were already addressed, puts into question whether there is [Islamophobic] bias at play.

March 10, 2025 Hajare El-Khaldi

(Morocco World News) Al-Kindi, the only [Muslim] private high school in France and the sole Muslim institution with state partnership, is standing before the administrative court of Lyon today to appeal authorities’ decision to terminate its contract. The prefecture of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes announced […]

Franco-Algerian crisis figure ‘Doualemn’ gets 5-month suspended term The case has become a focal point in deteriorating diplomatic relations between France and Algeria.

March 6, 2025 Adil Faouzi

(Morocco World News) Algerian TikTok influencer Boualem Naman, known as “Doualemn,” was sentenced to a five-month suspended prison term on Thursday by the Montpellier Criminal Court for “public provocation to commit a crime.” During a highly publicized hearing on February 24, the […]

France announces arrest of new Algerian influencer amid Paris-Algiers tensions The two countries have been responding to each [other’s] accusations, with French officials calling for measures to address Algeria’s 'hostile' approaches.

January 17, 2025 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) France announced on Thursday the arrest of a new Algerian influencer, identified as Mahdi B. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that police arrested the influencer on Tuesday for a video in which he allegedly showed intent to carry out […]

Algeria lashes out at France after failed deportation of TikTok influencer Algeria’s defiant rejection of France’s complaints reveals a regime desperately trying to deflect attention from its diplomatic failures by blaming 'far-right' French officials.

January 11, 2025 Adil Faouzi

(Morocco World News) In a combative response that further strains diplomatic relations, Algeria rejected French accusations of “escalation” and “humiliation” on Saturday, January 11, after refusing to accept a deported Algerian social media influencer. The latest diplomatic row erupted when Algerian authorities […]

Algeria rejects France-expelled influencer, sparks outrage France launched a campaign cracking down on influencers who are inciting hatred through images, videos, or texts, confirming the country’s commitment to combat extremism.

January 10, 2025 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Former French officials, netizens, and activists have condemned Algeria’s refusal to accept the return of an Algerian influencer, who France expelled on Thursday. French police arrested the influencer known as Doualemn on TikTok on Sunday in Montpellier, after he […]

Halal ‘wild boar’ butcher shop shut down in France Residents have long lost trust in the shop owner after failing several food inspections.

January 7, 2025 Aymen Alami

(Morocco World News) A halal butcher shop in Bobigny, France, has been closed since New Year’s Eve “until further notice,” after food inspectors found wild boar meat on the premises, according to the French media outlet Le Parisien. The shop, located on […]

France arrests second Algerian TikToker over terror threats After openly threatening supporters of anti-Algerian regime protesters in France, two TikTok influencers with large followings were arrested in separate raids Friday.

January 4, 2025 Adil Faouzi

(Morocco World News) French authorities have arrested two Algerian social media influencers on Friday, for allegedly making terrorist threats and inciting violence through TikTok videos. The second arrest came just hours after the first one, as announced by French Interior Minister Bruno […]

Switzerland’s burqa ban takes effect as of January 1 The question remains whether these laws are a step toward equality or a step backward in the protection of individual freedoms.

January 1, 2025 Issam Toutate

(Morocco World News) The controversial burqa ban has officially taken effect today, January 1, in Switzerland, prohibiting the wearing of full-face coverings in public spaces. The law, which passed through a nationwide referendum in 2021, echoes an ever-growing wave of restrictions and […]

Muslim school sues French politician for defamation The school administrators claim French officials are going all-out to rescind the state funding of the last Muslim school in France.

December 17, 2024 Aymen Alami

(Morocco World News) The Al-Kindi school group, a Muslim private school in Décines-Charpieu, a commune in the region of Lyon in south-eastern France, is suing a French MP for defamation after the politician accused the school of “denying history” and not teaching […]

France’s only Muslim high school faces potential contract termination France’s Muslim community has been grappling with the country’s increasing anti-Islamization measures.

December 4, 2024 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Al Kindi, the only Muslim private high school in France, is facing the threat of contract termination by the Rhone prefecture. The threat could potentially end the school’s official association with the state. According to the website Lyon Capitale, […]

Spain commends Morocco’s role in joint ISIS-affiliated terror cell dismantling The coordinated raids targeted six individuals in Madrid, Ibiza, Ceuta, and three others in Tetouan and Fnideq.

November 26, 2024 Firdaous Naim

(Morocco World News) Spanish authorities have publicly commended Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) for its instrumental role in dismantling an ISIS-linked terror cell on November 22. The cell, composed of nine members operating in Morocco and Spain, posed what officials […]

Spain, Morocco team up to arrest two Daesh suspects The operation was conducted under the oversight of Spain's Central Investigation Court, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office of the National Court.

October 19, 2024 Mahamadou Simpara

(Morocco World News) The Spanish National Police, in collaboration with Morocco’s Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), arrested two individuals in northern Spain suspected of being linked to the terrorist organization Daesh. The arrests took place on Friday in the towns of […]

Morocco, Spain collaborate to arrest 8 terror suspects Morocco frequently called for a shared responsibility to address security threats, particularly terrorism.

July 5, 2024 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Morocco’s security services and the Spanish Civil Guard announced on Friday arresting a group of eight terror suspects in a joint operation. The joint operation between the Spanish Civil Guard Intelligence Service and Morocco’s General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance […]

France [deports] Algerian imam over accusations of hate speech Mohamed Tataiat arrived in France in 1985 and has been serving as an imam in Toulouse since 1987.

April 20, 2024 Jihane Rahhou

(Morocco World News) Mohamed Tataiat, an Algerian national serving as an imam in Toulouse, France, has been deported back to Algeria following his conviction for inciting hatred and violence against the Jewish community. The deportation took place on Friday evening, according to […]

France deports Moroccan-French convicted of terrorism charges to Morocco France also stripped the individual of his French nationality.

March 31, 2024 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) France has expelled Rachid Ait El Hadj, an individual convicted of terrorism in 2007 and stripped of French nationality. El Hadj, who was under surveillance for his alleged persistent links with terrorist groups, was expelled on Saturday morning, French […]

French Football Federation opposes match breaks for Muslim players in Ramadan This contrasts with the decisions of countries like England and Germany, who have allowed measures to give Muslim players a chance to break their fast before resuming the match.

March 13, 2024 Jihane Rahhou

(Morocco World News) The French Football Federation (FFF) has once again opposed the implementation of breaks during matches for Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan. According to converging media reports, the FFF’s Federal Referees Commission (CFA) sent an email to […]

French interior minister announces plans to introduce new ‘imam status’ The success of the status will depend on the willingness of Muslim communities in France to embrace it

February 29, 2024 Mahamadou Simpara

(Morocco World News) Following the expulsion of Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi to Tunisia, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin unveiled earlier this week the designation of “imam in France” status. The minister made the announcement in a speech tackling the notion that Islam is […]

French education ministry to close Muslim private school France has recently cut public subsidies on another primary Muslim secondary institution.

February 26, 2024 Jihane Rahhou

(Morocco World News) Only months after enacting a ban on abaya in public schools, the French education ministry is now targeting private Muslim schools, citing “concerns over opaque funding.” The French minister of national education, Nicole Belloubet, has announced plans to shut […]

France to cease acceptance of foreign-appointed imams starting 2024 France’s history of controversial measures has fueled concerns that this latest move is a continuation of policies targeting Islamic practices.

December 30, 2023 Sara Zouiten

(Morocco World News) French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced that France will no longer accept new “detached imams” from foreign countries starting on January 1, 2024. The announcement follows President Emmanuel Macron’s 2020 decision to end the presence of around 300 […]

Morocco, Spain team up to arrest terror suspects in Nador, Melilla The arrests came less than a week after a similar joint Spanish-Moroccan counterterrorism operation.

December 19, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) and Spanish authorities carried out a joint counterterrorism operation, during which several terror suspects were arrested in Nador, Morocco’s Oriental region, and in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. The BCIJ arrested […]

Morocco, Spain dismantle terrorist support network Spanish authorities arrested five people in four different provinces, according to Spanish police.

December 16, 2023 Oussama Aamari

(Morocco World News) Spanish police announced on Saturday that they dismantled a network that helped plan and finance the activities of ISIS members, in collaboration with Morocco’s General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Spanish authorities arrested five people in the provinces of […]

French police reject Muslim man’s application because of prayer mark on forehead Karim’s boyhood dream of serving in the French police force has been shattered because of his visible devotion to his faith.

September 21, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The Paris police prefecture rejected a Muslim’s man application to join the police academy because of a prayer mark on his forehead, French news outlet MediaPart reported last week. Karim, the 24-year-old Muslim man whose application was rejected, spoke […]

Council of State suspends burkini ban in south-eastern France The Council of State ruled that the ban violated 'three fundamental freedoms: freedom of movement, freedom of conscience, and personal freedom.'

July 19, 2023 Samia Qbaibi

(Morocco World News) The Council of State, France’s highest court, has suspended the burkini ban imposed by the municipality of Mandelieu-la-Napoule on its beaches, arguing that there was no evidence that the burkini posed risks to public order. This ruling by the […]

Morocco, Spain team up against ISIS threats, arrest two suspects Morocco’s counterterrorism approach prioritizes international cooperation against terrorism and transnational crimes.

July 19, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Morocco’s Central Bureau of Investigations (BCIJ) has announced the arrest of an ISIS suspect in the city of Nador today. The ISIS suspect had been operating between Spain and Morocco, according to a statement from the General Directorate of […]

French writer Michel Houellebecq says he is a ‘part-time Islamophobe’ The best-selling French writer is notorious for repeatedly arguing that Islam is not compatible with France's 'Republican values.'

January 5, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) French writer Michel Houellebecq has strikingly admitted to condoning and promoting an anti-Islam discourse, sarcastically pleading guilty to being “a part-time Islamophobe.” France has a problem with Islam The writer made his shocking remarks as he barely emerged from […]

Belgium wants to deport imam Hassan Iquioussen to Morocco Morocco’s government canceled a consular pass for imam Iquioussen’s deportation in September 2022.

January 1, 2023 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Authorities in Belgium are seeking to deport Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen to Morocco. News outlet BFMTV quoted sources that Belgium will deport the imam directly to Morocco. Belgian authorities arrested Iquioussen in September of last year. The imam has […]

Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen’s legal case on hold The destiny of the Moroccan-French imam is still uncertain for the time being.

October 5, 2022 Ghita Menouni

(Morocco World News) Belgium might not expel Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen to France. French news outlet Le Figaro reported on October 4 that Iquioussen might not face extradition to France, describing his case as a “legal mess.” Belgian officials announced the arrest […]

Police in Belgium arrest Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen France issued a European arrest warrant against the imam after the French Council of State gave the green light for his deportation.

September 30, 2022 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne announced today that security services in the European country arrested French-Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen. AFP quoted the Belgian minister confirming the news. “I can confirm to you that he was arrested today by […]

French interior minister prepares list of imams to expel from France

September 5, 2022 Oussama Aamari

(Morocco World News) French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said during an interview with BFMTV that there are “other imams like Iquioussen,” adding that he is preparing a list of “preachers, presidents or agitators of associations” who could be expelled from France. The […]

Lawyer of Imam Iquioussen denounces French interior minister’s ‘political show’ The French-Moroccan imam is accused of promoting hate speech.

September 3, 2022 Souad Anouar

(Morocco World News) Lucie Simon, Imam Hassan Iquioussen’s lawyer, on Friday confirmed that her client left the French territory in compliance with the ministerial expulsion decision without specifying his whereabouts. In an interview with BFM TV, Simon decried the “political show” carried […]

Morocco helps Spain arrest two terrorists in Barcelona, Austria The two detainees received military training and gained combat experience in Syria.

August 6, 2022 Souad Anouar

(Morocco World News) Morocco’s General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) recently collaborated with Spanish authorities to arrest in Spain and Austria two foreign terrorist fighters believed to be members of a global jihadist organization. The two foreign terrorist fighters hold Moroccan nationality […]

French court suspends expulsion of Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen Reports suggested that France would expel the imam to Morocco after Minister of Interior Gerald Darmanin decided to issue an expulsion order against him.

August 5, 2022 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The Paris Administrative Court on Friday suspended the expulsion order of Moroccan-French imam Hassan Iquioussen. The court ruled in favor of the imam, suggesting that his expulsion would cause a “disproportionate attack” on his private life and family. The […]

NGO slams France for threatening to expel French-born Moroccan imam France’s interior minister is accusing the imam of promoting hate speech against the country’s values.

August 2, 2022 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) The League for Human Rights (LDH) issued a statement on Monday to denounce the French government’s decision to expel Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen. The NGO argued that both Minister of Interior Gerald Darmanin and the prefect of the Hauts-de-France […]

France uses controversial law to expel Moroccan imam Iquioussen France's interior minister claims that the imam has been promoting hate speech against the country’s values.

July 29, 2022 Safaa Kasraoui

(Morocco World News) France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said that his country is set to expel Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen. The minister publicly accused the France-born Moroccan imam of adopting “hate speech against the values of France, contrary to our principles of […]

First name ‘Mohamed’ is losing popularity in Belgium Lina, Sofia, Inès, Sara, and Aya were featured among the most popular names of girls born in Belgium in 2021.

July 7, 2022 Souad Anouar

(Morocco World News) Recent data from the Statbel, the Belgian statistics office, reported that 294 babies were named Mohamed in 2021, down from 518 registered cases in 2011. Data show that the popularity of Mohamed in Belgium had been steadily growing between […]

Muslim group challenges US program for promoting atheism in Islamic countries Several House Republicans also argue that the US grant program violates the Constitution.

July 6, 2022 Sara Zouiten

(Morocco World News) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group based in Washington, raised alarms last week over a grant program run by the US State Department, arguing that it would use taxpayer funds “to promote […]

Berlin mosque sparks outrage for raising rainbow flag in support of LGBTQ+ The self-proclaimed liberal mosque prides itself on being a breeding ground for liberal practices that are forbidden in other mosques across the world.

July 4, 2022 Sara Zouiten

(Morocco World News) The Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque in Berlin is embroiled in a major controversy over an unprecedented decision to raise the rainbow flag on July 1 ahead of Friday prayer to show support to the LGBTQ+ community. Attendees of the flag-raising […]

Spanish court convicts Moroccan man of terrorism promotion The defendant recruited and indoctrinated members of the Canary Islands community.

May 24, 2022 Souad Anouar

(Morocco World News) A Spanish court on Monday gave a three-year prison sentence to a Moroccan national for terrorism recruitment and indoctrination charges. The sentencing concerned a Moroccan man, Mohamed B., who was detained and sentenced in Grand Canary [Island] for his […]

France orders ‘provisional reopening’ of Beauvais mosque The decision comes following the eviction of the previous imam over charges of inciting hatred and 'defending terrorism.'

May 16, 2022 Oumaima Latrech

(Morocco World News) Frances’s administrative court of the northern city of Amiens has decided to give a “provisional reopening” of the Great Mosque of Beauvais after being closed for six months for “unacceptable” preaching. The French lawyer for the association managing the […]

Eric Zemmour: ‘I will make sure that Muslims respect France’ The pundit is implicitly softening his previous racist and Islamophobic remarks.

January 22, 2022 Issam Toutate

(Morocco World News) A few days after he was fined €10,000 for anti-immigrant and Islamophobic remarks, Eric Zemmour, the far-right pundit running for president in France, has again targeted Muslims and vowed to make them more respectful of the French republic and […]

Darmanin describes Muslim-rights organization as ‘foreign influence by Islam’ The recurrent targeting of mosques and Islamic organizations is centered around politically-popular Islamophobia.

January 21, 2022 Issam Toutate

(Morocco World News) The French government intends to replace the country’s largest Muslim-rights organization with one free from “foreign influence” amid a crackdown on Islamic organizations in France. French Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin announced on January 20 that the French […]