Muslims In Europe 2017: Is France Anti-Islam? Mosque Ordered To Remain Closed Over Terror, 'Jihad' Fears

The highest administrative court in France ordered a mosque in suburban Paris to remain closed after judges ruled it was a “hotbed of violent jihadist ideology,” Express UK reported Monday. Mosque leaders have had their motions to reopen the religious site rejected by judges two times in the past three months over accusations of providing speakers a platform to “preach jihad” and spread their extremist views.

The State Council ruled the Al Rawda mosque stay closed until the end July when the country’s state of emergency was scheduled to terminate. It was “too soon” to tell if all Muslim extremists participating in the mosque’s activities had been “smoked out,” the court said.

The French government voted last month to extend a state of emergency aimed at combating terrorism by giving police greater search-and-arrest powers for the fourth time. It was originally issued less than 48 hours after the Nov. 13, 2015, Paris terror attacks that left 130 people dead and 368 injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the seven individuals who attacked several parts of the city known for having heavy pedestrian traffic including a concert venue and a soccer stadium through mass shootings and suicide bombings.

The Al Rawda mosque, which is located in an impoverished northern Paris suburb with a high Muslim population, has been closed since November following the country’s widespread efforts to prevent another attack occurring at the hands of religious extremists.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who served as the country’s interior minister when the mosque was shut down, said the mosque “openly defended terrorism and promoted an ideology of hate.”

In the court ruling, judges said the closing of the mosque would not limit the number of places where Muslims living in area could worship, citing there were three mosques located nearby.

The Al Rawda mosque opened in 2013 and was known for drawing 600 worshippers for Friday prayers, which is a religious service where attendance is obligatory for all Muslim males.

At least 20 mosques have been ordered to close their doors to worshippers throughout the country since the implementation of the national state of emergency.